Joel Kabongo

Joel Zakarias Kabongo (Danish pronunciation: [kʰæˈpʌŋko]; born 5 April 1998) is a Danish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Danish Superliga club Brøndby IF.

Joel Kabongo
Personal information
Full name Joel Zakarias Kabongo
Date of birth (1998-04-05) 5 April 1998
Place of birth Albertslund, Denmark
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Centre-back
Club information
Current team
 Brøndby
Number 24
Youth career
2003–2008 Albertslund IF
2008–2017 Brøndby
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017– Brøndby 15 (0)
2017 → Fremad Amager (loan) 10 (0)
National team‡
2013 Denmark U16 1 (0)
2016 Denmark U18 4 (0)
2016–2017 Denmark U19 6 (0)
2018– Denmark U21 5 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:35, 24 August 2019 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16:37, 24 August 2019 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Kabongo started playing for hometown club Albertslund IF before signing a youth contract with Brøndby IF. During his time in the youth teams, Kabongo was a part of the under-17 team that won the championship and the domestic cup.[1] On 31 August 2017, Kabongo moved to second division club Fremad Amager on loan until 1 January 2018.[2] He made his first-team debut for Fremad on 3 September, coming on as a substitute for Heini Vatnsdal in the 82nd minute of a 1–0 win home win against Esbjerg fB.[3]

Brøndby

After returning to Brøndby from his loan spell, Kabongo saw playing time in the team's pre-season friendlies, being in the starting lineup in a match against Shakhtar Donetsk.[4] Kabongo made his official debut for Brøndby in the first match of the 2018–19 Danish Superliga season, starting in a 2–0 away win over Randers FC and playing the entire match.[5]

On 16 August 2018, Kabongo made his UEFA Europa League debut, starting in a 2–1 home win over Spartak Subotica. His debut was short-lived, however, as he was sent off in the 15th minute for a professional foul on Dejan Đenić.[6] On 26 August 2018, in a 2–1 win over Vendsyssel FF, Kabongo was sent off again, this time for a 92nd minute foul on Sander Fischer, resulting in a penalty and Kabongo being shown a second yellow card.[7] On 22 April 2019, in a match against FC Midtjylland, Kabongo suffered a cruciate ligament tear and was substituted in the first half.[8] The initial prognosis suggested that he would miss 12 months.[9]

On 5 March 2020, Kabongo, alongside several other Brøndby personnel, was placed in home quarantine after having met with former Brøndby-player Thomas Kahlenberg, who had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Denmark. Kahlenberg had been infected at a birthday party in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.[10] Kabongo made his comeback in football on 21 May 2020 in a friendly against Lyngby.[11][12]

Personal life

Kabongo and his girlfriend, Melanie Litgov, have one child: a daughter, Veneda (born 30 April 2020 at Rigshospitalet).[13]

Honours

Brøndby IF

References
  1. Ingemann Nielsen, Peter (12 April 2016). "Focus On: Joel Kabongo, the Centre-Back with the Big Ambitions" (in Danish). Tipsbladet. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  2. "Joel Kabongo Loaned Out to Fremad Amager" (in Danish). brondby.com. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  3. "Kabongo' Lightning-Fast Debut in Fremad Amager's win over Esbjerg" (in Danish). 3Point.dk. 3 September 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  4. "Startopstilling til træningskampen mod Shakhtar Donetsk" (in Danish). Brøndby IF. 26 June 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  5. "Kabongo: Fantastisk at få debut" (in Danish). Brøndby IF. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  6. "Brøndbys 10 mand spiller sig videre i Europa" (in Danish). DR. 16 August 2018. Retrieved 27 August 2018.
  7. Svenningsen, Mette. "Vendsyssel kæmpede forgæves mod Brøndby". TV2 Nord. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  8. "Skræk-skade i Brøndby: Stjerne ude resten af 2019". Ekstra Bladet. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  9. Jensen, Kenneth. "Brøndby-forsvarer er blevet opereret: Forventes ude i omkring et år". Tipsbladet. Retrieved 24 August 2019.
  10. Jensen, Michael Sten (5 March 2020). "Tidligere landsholdsspiller isoleret med coronavirus". dr.dk. DR. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  11. Margren, Sara (22 May 2020). "Kabongo fik BIF-comeback: Rigtig fed følelse". bold.dk. bold.dk. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  12. Møller Karlsen, Nanna (21 May 2020). "Kabongo efter comeback: Det var en rigtig fed følelse – har jeg ventet på i 12 måneder". 3point.dk. 3point. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. Møller Karlsen, Nanna (30 April 2020). "Joel Kabongo er blevet far". 3point.dk. 3point. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
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