Mushaga Bakenga

Mushaga Bakenga
Bakenga in 2017
Personal information
Full name Mushagalusa Bakenga Joar Bahati Namugunga[1]
Date of birth (1992-08-08) 8 August 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Trondheim, Norway
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Punjab
Number 9
Youth career
2004 Nationalkameratene
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2006 Nationalkameratene 34 (26)
2007–2008 Rosenborg II 14 (6)
2009–2012 Rosenborg 34 (12)
2012–2016 Club Brugge 8 (1)
2012–2013 → Cercle Brugge (loan) 27 (7)
2013–2014 → Esbjerg (loan) 24 (6)
2014–2015 → Eintracht Braunschweig (loan) 17 (2)
2015–2016 → Molde (loan) 8 (2)
2016–2017 Rosenborg 19 (8)
2017–2019 Tromsø 41 (5)
2019 → Ranheim (loan) 12 (2)
2020–2021 Odd 37 (26)
2021–2022 Tokushima Vortis 31 (5)
2023 Stabæk 29 (8)
2023–2024 Apollon Limassol 19 (8)
2024– Punjab 6 (0)
International career
2007 Norway U15 4 (4)
2008 Norway U16 12 (8)
2009 Norway U17 10 (1)
2010 Norway U18 7 (6)
2009–2011 Norway U19 12 (4)
2011–2013 Norway U21 16 (11)
2014 Norway U-23 1 (0)
2014 Norway 1 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15:58, 6 November 2024 (UTC)

Mushagalusa Bakenga Joar Bahati Namugunga (born 8 August 1992) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Indian Super League club Punjab.

Club career

[edit]

At a very young age Bakenga was spotted, his rise to the first team is testament to his undoubted ability to score goals. From the age of 13 he had averaged over 50 goals a season, with these performances linking him to Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Bakenga began his career with SK Nationalkameratene[2] and joined Rosenborg BK in February 2007. He was on trial with Chelsea's academy in the spring.[3][4] From 2009 he trained with Rosenborg's senior team twice a week.[5] He also played on the Norwegian u-19 national team, despite not being 17 years old yet.[6] His first selection in the senior squad came in August 2009 against Bodø/Glimt, but he did not play.[7] His actual début in the Tippeligaen came on 23 September 2009 against Tromsø. He nearly scored in the goalless draw—a goal from Bakenga would have secured the league title for Rosenborg.[8]

In 2010, Bakenga was plagued by injuries and played only a few matches for Rosenborg. But, after scoring six times in pre-season, Bakenga secured a position in the starting line-up at the start of 2011 Tippeligaen. He scored Rosenborg's only goal in the loss against Brann, before a wonderful strike against Stabæk. Mush scored 12 league goals in 2011. In January 2012, Hannover 96 offered 10 million NOK (± €1.3m) for Bakenga, but Rosenborg rejected the offer.[9] Later in January, Rosenborg received another offer for Bakenga, this time for €2.6m from Club Brugge. Rosenborg accepted, and Bakenga signed a five-and-a-half-year contract on 28 January.[10] He scored in his debut for Club Brugge, in the 5–1 win against Beerschot on 5 February 2012.[11] It was not only the goal that he will remember from his debut: "I never ran so fast in my life. I did not even have time to explain to the coach what was wrong. Luckily I just made it in time," said Bakenga, having to run to the toilet during his debut match.[12]

Bakenga played in the 2013 Belgian Cup Final, which Cercle lost 2–0 against Genk.[13]

On 8 July 2014, he joined German club Eintracht Braunschweig on a one-year loan deal.[14]

On 18 March 2015, Bakenga cut short his Eintracht Braunschweig loan deal, signing a one-year loan deal with Norwegian champions Molde FK.[15] On 30 March, seven minutes into his first match for Molde FK, he was carried off the pitch with a torn achilles tendon, sidelining him for at least six months.[16]

In July 2016, Bakenga returned to Rosenborg.[17]

In August 2024, Bakenga signed with Indian Super League club Punjab.[18]

Charity and activism

[edit]

Bakenga started an organisation called Jabez's World through which he runs a school named College Namugunga in Eastern Congo which has about 1300 students.[19] On 18 September 2024, he won the FIFPro Marcus Rashford Award for championing 'programs and actions that have a positive impact on their communities'.[20]

International career

[edit]

Bakenga has represented Norway from under-15 level up to under-21 level.[21] He scored a hat-trick for the under-19 team in the match against Moldova U19 in April 2011.[22] Later the same year he made his debut for the under-21 team later the same year. He was not included in the Norwegian squad for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, but scored four goals for the "new" under-21 team in the match against Poland U21 on 10 June 2013.[23]

Having never appeared in a competitive match for Norway, Bakenga remains potentially eligible for DR Congo.

Personal life

[edit]

His parents hail from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[24] He's the nephew of doctor Denis Mukwege, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient.[25]

Career statistics

[edit]
As of 19 September 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season Division League Cup Europe Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rosenborg 2009 Eliteserien 3 0 0 0 – 3 0
2010 5 0 1 0 1 0 7 0
2011 26 12 3 4 6 0 35 16
Total 34 12 4 4 7 0 45 16
Club Brugge 2011–12 Belgian Pro League 8 1 0 0 – 8 1
Cercle Brugge (loan) 2012–13 Belgian Pro League 27 7 6 4 – 33 11
Esbjerg (loan) 2013–14 Superliga 24 6 1 2 5 1 30 9
Eintracht Braunschweig (loan) 2014–15 2. Bundesliga 17 2 1 0 – 18 2
Molde (loan) 2015 Eliteserien 6 1 0 0 1 0 7 1
2016 2 1 1 3 – 3 4
Total 8 2 1 3 1 0 10 5
Rosenborg 2016 Eliteserien 9 7 3 0 1 0 13 7
2017 10 1 3 0 0 0 13 1
Total 19 8 6 0 1 0 26 8
Tromsø 2017 Eliteserien 8 3 0 0 0 0 8 3
2018 25 2 2 1 0 0 27 3
2019 8 0 1 0 0 0 9 0
Total 41 5 3 1 0 0 44 6
Ranheim (loan) 2019 Eliteserien 12 2 1 0 0 0 13 2
Odd 2020 Eliteserien 25 15 – 0 0 25 15
2021 11 11 0 0 0 0 11 11
Total 36 26 0 0 0 0 36 26
Tokushima Vortis 2021 J1 League 9 1 0 0 0 0 9 1
2022 J2 League 22 4 5 2 0 0 27 6
Total 31 5 5 2 0 0 36 7
Stabæk 2023 Eliteserien 29 8 4 3 0 0 33 11
Apollon Limassol 2023–24 Cypriot First Division 19 8 3 0 0 0 22 8
Punjab 2024–25 Indian Super League 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
Career total 306 92 35 19 14 1 355 112

Honours

[edit]

Rosenborg

Cercle Brugge

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Skatten 2009". VG Nett (in Norwegian). Archived from the original on 27 August 2011. Retrieved 20 March 2011.
  2. ^ Chelsea Trial Norwegian Starlet Mushaga Joar Bakenga
  3. ^ "Derfor har RBK guttelag neste år". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 6 September 2007.
  4. ^ "Da Chelsea var på Nissekollen". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian). 6 September 2007.
  5. ^ Oddekalv, Line L. (12 June 2009). "Gjesteopptreden med gevinst". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian).
  6. ^ Oddekalv, Line L. (19 June 2009). "- Det er ikke sprint, men maraton!". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian).
  7. ^ Strøm, Ole Kristian (15 August 2009). "- Jeg har et stort hjerte for RBK". VG Sport (in Norwegian).
  8. ^ Sagbakken, Ole K.; Bråten, Roy Tommy (19 June 2009). "Jeg kommer til å tenke på det i 10–15 år fremover". Adresseavisen (in Norwegian).
  9. ^ "RBK avslo Bakenga-bud på 10 millioner kroner". tv2.no (in Norwegian). TV 2. 9 January 2012. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  10. ^ Hansen, Knut Arne (29 January 2012). "Bakenga klar for Club Brugge". vg.no (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  11. ^ "Bakenga scoret i debuten". Norwegian News Agency (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. 5 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  12. ^ "Season review: Belgium". Berend Scholten. UEFA.com. 22 May 2012. Retrieved 22 May 2012.
  13. ^ "Ingen cupjubel for Bakenga" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Norwegian News Agency. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Mushaga Bakenga fünfter Neuzugang der Löwen" (in German). eintracht.com. 8 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  15. ^ "Mushaga Bakenga op uitleenbasis naar Molde" (in Dutch). Club Brugge KV. 18 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Mushaga Bakenga røk akillesen - NRK Sport - Sportsnyheter, resultater og sendeplan". Nrk.no. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  17. ^ Frode Søraas (18 July 2016). "Nyheter | Rosenborg". Rbk.no. Archived from the original on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  18. ^ "ISL: Punjab FC signs Novoselec, Bakenga". sportstar.thehindu.com. Chennai: Sportstar. 4 August 2024. Archived from the original on 5 August 2024. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
  19. ^ Menon, Anirudh (18 October 2024). "How Punjab FC's Mushaga Bakenga channeled his inner Rashford to score a goal for life". ESPN. Retrieved 19 October 2024.
  20. ^ "Mushaga Bakenga becomes latest Marcus Rashford Award winner at World Football Summit". FIFPRO. 18 September 2024.
  21. ^ "Mushaga Joar Bakenga's profil - fotball.no - Norges Fotballforbund". Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  22. ^ Drangsholt, Gaute Bugge (28 April 2011). "Hat trick fra Bakenga sikret G19-seier" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  23. ^ Hove, Lasse Bjarte (10 June 2013). "Se Bakenga score fire mot Polen" (in Norwegian). TV 2. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
  24. ^ Myren, Thomas (5 September 2009). "Bakenga håper på RBK-debut" (in Norwegian). Rosenborg BK. Retrieved 24 September 2009.
  25. ^ Øgar, Sindre (15 January 2014). "Det er sånt et barn ikke skal se og oppleve" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  26. ^ "Mestvinnende spillere" (in Norwegian). Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 October 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  27. ^ Chris Thomas Skogli (24 September 2016). "Nyheter | Rosenborg". Rbk.no. Archived from the original on 6 October 2016. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  28. ^ "Rosenborg-jubel i juniorfinalen" (in Norwegian). Football Association of Norway. 31 October 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
  29. ^ "Stabæk jr. - Rosenborg G19 - NM G19 Telenor Cup - Finale, 31.10.2009". Altomfotball.no. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
  30. ^ "RBK-juniorer vant cupfinale - NRK Trøndelag - Lokale nyheter, TV og radio". Nrk.no. 29 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2016.
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