André Bona
André Gregory Bona (born 19 January 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a defender.
Bona playing for HFX Wanderers in 2019 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | André Gregory Bona[1] | ||
Date of birth | 19 January 1990 | ||
Place of birth | Marseille, France | ||
Height | 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
Position(s) | Defender | ||
Youth career | |||
AS Afro–Antillais | |||
SO Caillolais | |||
Marseille | |||
College career | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2014–2018 | UQAM Citadins | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
2017–2018 | Longueuil | 21 | (3) |
2019 | HFX Wanderers | 25 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 October 2019 |
Club career
Early career
Bona began playing football at age five with local club Afro–Antillais before switching to S.O. Caillolais.[2] At age thirteen, he joined the academy of Ligue 1 side Olympique de Marseille but ultimately left to focus on sprinting.[2] After six years competing at the national level in the 60m, 100m and 200m, Bona returned to football at the senior amateur level.[2] In 2014, he received offers from clubs in the Championnat National 2 and Championnat National 3, but opted to pursue an education overseas in Canada instead.[2]
From 2014 to 2018 Bona attended the Université du Québec à Montréal, where he studied environmental science.[2] In 2017, he signed with local PLSQ side CS Longueuil and made nine league appearances that season.[3] The following year, he made another twelve league appearances for Longueuil, scoring three goals.[3]
HFX Wanderers
On 12 November 2018, Bona was selected in the second round of the CPL–U Sports Draft, 10th overall, by the HFX Wanderers.[4] On 29 March 2019, Bona officially signed with Wanderers and made his Canadian Premier League debut on 28 April 2019 as a substitute in the club's inaugural match.[5][6]
André Bona scored his first goal for Halifax in the round Two in the Canadian Championship in Winnipeg against Valour FC on June 12th 2019. During injury time the defender countered Valour FC off a corner and demonstrated his pace by sprinting and scoring on an open net, sealing a 2-0 win at Investors Group Field stadium.[7][8][9] On 14 December 2019, the club announced that Bona would not return for the 2020 season.[10]
References
- "UQAM Citadins 2017-18" (in French). UQAM. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- "André Bona's interview". Medium. 6 December 2018. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- "PTS-Ligue Archive" (in French). TSI Sports. Retrieved 19 May 2019.
- Gareth Hampshire (13 November 2019). "Halifax born goalkeeper among three University draft picks for HFX Wanderers". HFX Wanderers FC. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- "Andre Bona". Soccerway. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- Gareth Hampshire (29 March 2019). "Wanderers sign U SPORTS draft picks Bona & Schaale". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
- https://hfxwanderersfc.canpl.ca/article/wanderers-proud-to-represent-halifax-and-cpl-in-can-champ-ottawa-fury-clash
- https://canpl.ca/article/recap-hfx-advance-in-canchamp-with-2nd-leg-shutdown-of-valour
- https://www.timescolonist.com/kourouma-bona-lead-wanderers-over-valour-in-canadian-championship-series-1.23854128
- Gareth Hampshire (14 December 2019). "HFX Wanderers FC thank non-returning players". HFX Wanderers FC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2019. Retrieved 14 December 2019.