Simon Banza

Simon Bokoté Banza (born 13 August 1996) is a French professional footballer who plays as a forward for Portuguese club F.C. Famalicão on loan from RC Lens.[1]

Simon Banza
Banza with Lens in 2019
Personal information
Full name Simon Bokoté Banza
Date of birth (1996-08-13) 13 August 1996
Place of birth Creil, France
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Famalicão
Number 17
Youth career
US Chantilly
Liévin
Lens
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2019 Lens B 56 (10)
2015– Lens 88 (14)
2017 → Béziers (loan) 11 (0)
2017–2018 → Union Titus Pétange (loan) 21 (13)
2021– → Famalicão (loan) 25 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 12:41, 22 April 2022 (UTC)

Club career

Born in Creil, Oise, Banza began his senior career with RC Lens, first with its reserve team in the fourth tier. He scored his first Ligue 2 goal on 6 May 2016, as consolation at the end of a 2–1 loss at Football Bourg-en-Bresse Péronnas 01.[2]

In January 2017, Banza was loaned to Championnat National club AS Béziers until the end of the season.[3] That August, he moved to Union Titus Pétange of the Luxembourg National Division in the same manner.[4] He was the season's sixth highest scorer with 13 goals, including a hat-trick in a 4–1 home win over US Esch on 15 April 2018.[5]

On 24 May 2019, Banza scored the extra-time winner as Lens won 2–1 at ES Troyes AC in the second leg of the play-off semi-finals.[6] The following season, he scored seven times as Lens won promotion as runners-up, including two on 3 December 2019 in a 3–0 home win over his local side FC Chambly.[7] He was sent off 18 days later in a 1–0 win over Chamois Niortais F.C. also at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis.[8]

On 31 August 2021, Banza joined F.C. Famalicão in Portugal on loan for the 2021–22 season.[9] On his Primeira Liga debut 12 days later, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw at Moreirense FC;[10] he added both goals of a win at C.D. Santa Clara on 23 October, though he was also sent off.[11]

Personal life

Banza was born in France to DR Congolese parents.[12]

References
  1. Simon Banza at Soccerway. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
  2. "Simon Banza, de l'AFC Creil au RC Lens" [Simon Banza, from AFC Creil to RC Lens]. Courrier Picard (in French). 4 December 2019. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  3. "Football / National : Béziers recrute l'attaquant du RC Lens Simon Banza" [Football / National: Béziers recruit RC Lens attacker Simon Banza]. Midi Libre (in French). 9 January 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  4. "Simon Banza no Union Titus Pétange por empréstimo do Lens" [Simon Banza to Union Titus Pétange on loan from Lens]. Luxemburger Wort (in Portuguese). 1 August 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  5. "Triplé pour Simon Banza contre l'US Esch" [Hat-trick for Simon Banza against US Esch] (in French). Made in Lens. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  6. Noé, Sébastien (24 May 2019). "Ligue 2 Lens résiste à tout et s'offre une semaine de tous les rêves" [Ligue 2 Lens resist everything and offer themselves a dream week]. La Voix du Nord (in French). Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  7. Melosci, Vincent (3 December 2019). "Ligue 2 : Chambly corrigé à Lens" [Ligue 2: Chambly put right at Lens]. Le Parisien (in French). Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  8. "Le RC Lens champion d'automne après sa victoire face à Niort" [RC Lens autumn champions after their victory against Niort] (in French). France 3. 21 December 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  9. "Simon Banza reforça ataque do Famalicão" [Simon Banza bolsters Famalicão's attack]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 31 August 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  10. "Banza estreia-se com dois golos no empate do Famalicão em Moreira de Cónegos" [Banza debuts with two goals in Famalicão's draw in Moreira de Cónegos]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 12 September 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  11. "'Bis' de Banza dá primeiro triunfo ao Famalicão na Liga" [Banza brace gives Famalicão first triumph of Liga season]. O Minho (in Portuguese). 23 October 2021. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
  12. Enyimo, Martin (3 August 2016). "Ligue 2 française : des RD-Congolais de souche titulaires en clubs en première journée" [French Ligue 1: players of DR Congolese origin start for clubs on opening day] (in French). Agence d'Information d'Afrique Centrale. Retrieved 9 November 2021.
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