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From Leopoldville to Liège: A Conversation with Paul Bonga Bonga

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Identity and Nation in African Football

Part of the book series: Global Culture and Sport ((GCS))

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Abstract

Gerard Akindes met Paul Bonga Bonga Gailly in Brussels on December 15, 2011. When the latter mentioned that his father was a former footballer from Congo, it immediately became clear that he was the son of Paul Bonga Bonga. A defensive midfielder from Kinshasa, Bonga Bonga was probably the most accomplished of the first generation of African footballers who played in Belgium (Alegi, 2010: 92). Since his remarkable experiences in football have largely been overlooked or forgotten, a request to meet with the elderly Bonga Bonga became obligatory. Following a telephone conversation, he graciously agreed to meet; a couple of days later, his son introduced Akindes to Paul Bonga Bonga in his Brussels apartment.

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© 2014 Gerard Akindes and Peter Alegi

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Akindes, G., Alegi, P. (2014). From Leopoldville to Liège: A Conversation with Paul Bonga Bonga. In: Onwumechili, C., Akindes, G. (eds) Identity and Nation in African Football. Global Culture and Sport . Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137355812_16

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