Bwanga Tshimen facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Raymond Bwanga Tshimenu | ||
| Date of birth | 4 January 1949 | ||
| Place of birth | Élisabethville, Belgian Congo | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1965-1981 | TP Mazembe | ||
| International career | |||
| 1970–1976 | Congo-Kinshasa/Zaire | 28 | (2) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Raymond Bwanga Tshimenu is a famous football player from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was born on January 4, 1949, in a city called Élisabethville. This city is now known as Lubumbashi. Bwanga was a very strong defender on the football field. He played for many years and became a true legend.
Bwanga Tshimenu was so good that he earned a special nickname. People called him "Black Beckenbauer." This nickname came from African and French reporters. It compared him to Franz Beckenbauer, a legendary German football player. Beckenbauer was known for his amazing skills as a defender. Bwanga Tshimenu played with a similar style. He was smart, strong, and could lead his team from the back.
Amazing Achievements
Bwanga Tshimenu won many awards during his career. In 1973, he was named the African Footballer of the Year. This is a huge honor for any player in Africa. He received this award while playing for TP Mazembe. TP Mazembe is a well-known football club in Lubumbashi.
Player of the Century
In the year 2000, Bwanga Tshimenu received another big award. He was voted the Player of the Century for the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This award came from the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS). It showed how important he was to football in his home country.
Recognized by CAF
In 2006, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) honored him again. CAF chose him as one of the best 200 African football players. This recognition covered the last 50 years of African football. It proved his lasting impact on the sport.
Family Connection
Raymond Bwanga Tshimenu also has a family member who played football. His cousin, Kazadi Mwamba, was also a football player. It seems that football talent runs in their family!
