Lelo Mbele
Blaise Lelo Mbele | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 10, 1987 Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (retired) |
| Years active | 2006–2017 |
| Known for | Football forward for clubs including Orlando Pirates, Al-Hilal FC, and Gokulam Kerala; member of DR Congo national team |
Blaise Lelo Mbele (born 10 August 1987) is a retired Congolese professional football forward. Throughout his career, he played for several teams, notably including South Africa's Orlando Pirates and Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal FC.
Club career
Mbele played a key role in CS Sfaxien’s triumph in the CAF Confederation Cup.
On 29 November 2007, he secured a contract with Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal, earning $25,000 per month, with a transfer fee of $1.2 million paid to his previous club.
His first appearance in the Saudi Premier League came on 5 December 2007 during a 1–0 victory against Al Watani, and he netted his inaugural goal five days later facing Al Ittifaq.
In 2008, Mbele transferred to the Tunisian team Espérance.
By January 2009, he had moved to Sudan’s Al-Hilal on a three-year deal worth $1 million, attracted by the club’s financial capabilities and achievements. Following a less successful season, he switched to Libya’s Al Nasr.
On 12 July 2011, Mbele signed with Kuwaiti outfit Al Naser, but due to a muscle injury, the agreement was terminated on 28 July.
After spending four months unattached, he joined Malaysia’s Selangor FA on a two-year contract alongside Lebanese player Ramez Dayoub. Unfortunately, injuries prevented him from making any appearances, leading to his release by the Football Association of Selangor.
On 13 August 2012, Mbele committed to a two-year contract with Algerian side MC Alger.
He further broadened his international experience by signing with Bahrain’s Al-Ahli Club, marking his professional presence in fifteen different countries.
In 2017, Mbele ventured to India to represent the newly established I-League club Gokulam Kerala.
International career
Mbele was part of the DR Congo squad at the 2006 African Nations Cup, where the team advanced to the quarter-finals before being eliminated by eventual winners Egypt.
- Scores and results list DR Congo's goal tally first; score column reflects score after each Mbele goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Template:Fb | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2008 African Cup of Nations qualification |