Jean-Bertrand Balékita
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Jean-Bertrand Balékita | ||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 6 January 1948 | ||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Brazzaville, Congo–Brazzaville | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) | ||||||||||||||||
| Position | Right winger | ||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||
| 1967–1968 | Patronage Sainte-Anne | ||||||||||||||||
| 1969–1971 | Ajaccio | 13 | (1) | ||||||||||||||
| 1971–1972 | Toulon | 46 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| 1974–1975 | Montpellier | 9 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 77 | (7) | |||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||
| 1972–1974 | Congo | ||||||||||||||||
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||
Jean-Bertrand Balékita (born 6 January 1948) is a retired Congolese footballer. Nicknamed "Claise-Zézé",[1] he primarily played in France throughout his career, playing for Ajaccio, Toulon and Montpellier throughout his career. He also represented his home country of Congo-Brazzaville internationally, being a part of the winning squad of the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
Club career
Balékita began his career with Patronage Sainte-Anne in 1967 after being inspired by fellow Congolese international Bernard Foundoux Mulélé.[2] He spent the 1971–72 French Division 2 playing for Toulon where the club narrowly missed promotion.[3] Following that, he played for Montpelier in their inaugural 1974–75 season where despite making just nine appearances, he scored three goals.[4]
International career
Balékita was selected to represent his home country of Congo for the 1972 African Cup of Nations. Due to limitations by the CAF, he and fellow Congolese forward François M'Pelé would be the only two players allowed to represent their home country whilst playing in a foreign league.[5] In spite of this, he contributed to the club's only title in the tournament as of 2025, playing in the final.[6] He later returned for the 1974 African Cup of Nations where the club would narrowly be eliminated from the tournament following an extra goal scored by Zambian forward Bernard Chanda.[7]
Personal life
Jean-Betrand's older brothers Serge-Simon Balékita-Nzaba and Ferdinand Balékita were also professional footballers.[8] Following his football career, he joined the army and became a colonel and held the position of military attaché at the Congolese embassy in Cuba.[9] Despite his service in both football as well as in the military, neither he nor M'Pelé had enjoyed suitable retirements.[10]
References
- ^ "N'Kouka Matins: Diables-Noirs et SC Toulon, ç'a été sa vie" (PDF). La Semaine Africaine (in French). No. 3952. Brazzaville. 7 February 2020. p. 15. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "RECUEILLEMENT : Foundoux Mulélé rejoint les «immortels»". La Semaine Africaine (in French). 25 August 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Trente-deuxième de finale". AS Monaco FC (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Bertrand BALEKITA". Montpellier HSC (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Mampouya, Hervé Brice (15 January 2015). "Congo-Brazzaville: L'histoire des Diables rouges en CAN contée". All Africa (in French). Retrieved 26 August 2025.
- ^ Moukoko, Philippe (1999). Dictionnaire général du Congo-Brazzaville. L'Harmattan. p. 229. ISBN 978-2-296-39512-1.
- ^ Courtney, Barrie (22 August 2013). "African Nations Cup 1974 - Final Tournament Details". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ Kimina-Makumbu, F. (14 March 2012). "Nécrologie : Balékita-Nzaba "Kargu" s'en est allé !". Star du Congo (in French). La Semaine Africaine. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ Mahoungou, Guy-Saturnin. "Football : Que sont devenus les Diables Rouges: héros de Yahoundé 72" (PDF). La Semaine Africaine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
- ^ "Congo: 50 ans après leur sacre, les Diables rouges suivent la CAN à la télé". Le360 Sport (in French). 23 January 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2025.