Yves Ma-Kalambay
Encyclopedia
Yves Makabu-Ma-Kalambay (born 31 January 1986) is a Belgian footballer goalkeeper who is currently playing for the Belgian Jupiler Pro League club KV Mechelen. His parents are from the DR Congo, but Ma-Kalambay grew up in Brussels
in the same neighbourhood as fellow footballers Vincent Kompany
, Faris Haroun
, Anthony Vanden Borre
and Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo
. Ma-Kalambay represented Belgium in the 2008 Olympic Games
and has since played for DR Congo at full international level.
as a youth. He went on loan to Watford
in February 2006 to cover for the suspended Ben Foster
. Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd suggested that he was interested in signing Ma-Kalambay in some capacity for the 2006–07
season, but this did not come to fruition.
On 18 October, Ma-Kalambay made the bench for Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League match
group stage win against Barcelona
, due to injuries to Petr Čech
and Carlo Cudicini
. After the arrival of Magnus Hedman
, Ma-Kalambay was relegated to fifth choice goalkeeper at Chelsea.
club Hibernian
in June 2007. He kept a clean sheet on his competitive debut for Hibs in a Edinburgh derby
win at Tynecastle
against Hearts
. Despite making two bad errors in a 3–3 draw with Aberdeen
, Makalambay then made a penalty save in his next match, a 1–0 win over Inverness
.
Makalambay has received some criticism at times for his performances for Hibs, but he claimed during an interview with the Daily Record
in December 2008 that he is under greater scrutiny than goalkeepers of other Scottish Premier League
clubs. The newspaper surmised that this scrutiny was because of the high profile mistakes made by his immediate predecessors in the Hibs goal, Zibi Malkowski and Simon Brown
. After making an error in an Edinburgh derby
, Makalambay was replaced by Grzegorz Szamotulski
at half-time due to a hamstring injury. He regained his place in the first team near the end of the season, putting in some impressive displays in draws against the Old Firm
and in an Edinburgh derby win at Tynecastle, but then conceded a bizarre goal against Aberdeen on the final day of the season.
Makalambay lost his place to new signing Graham Stack in the 2009–10 season. With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Makalambay expressed a desire to open talks with Hibs about a new deal. Hibs signed goalkeeper
Graeme Smith on the first day of the January 2010 transfer window, however, which raised further doubt over Makalambay's future at the club. This doubt was confirmed on 14 May 2010 when it was announced that Ma-Kalambay's contract would not be renewed. After his release, Makalambay claimed that he had only been dropped due to his refusal to sign a new contract. He also claimed to have received offers from clubs in England and Spain.
club Swansea City
. He signed a contract with the club until the end of the 2010–11 season later that month. He left the club at the end of his contract in 2011.
, is injured for a long time. Makalambay will make his Pro League debut on 26 October 2011, as the first choice goalkeeper, Olivier Renard
, is injured as well.
. Makalambay played in only one match during the Olympics, when he came on as a substitute for Logan Bailly
during their 3–2 victory over Italy
in the quarter final. Belgium eventually finished in fourth place; Makalambay missed out on a medal due to Belgian defeats by Nigeria
and Brazil
.
Makalambay was selected by the Democratic Republic of Congo national football team for a friendly against Saudi Arabia
in May 2010. He made his international debut as Congo lost 2–0.
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
in the same neighbourhood as fellow footballers Vincent Kompany
Vincent Kompany
Vincent Jean Mpoy Kompany is a Belgian footballer who plays for Manchester City and the Belgium national team. He is capable of playing at both centre back and defensive midfielder. Kompany is of partial Congolese ancestry...
, Faris Haroun
Faris Haroun
Faris Haroun is a Belgian football player who plays in central midfield for Middlesbrough. He has also played for Belgium.- Middlesbrough :...
, Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre
Anthony Vanden Borre is a male Belgian footballer who plays for Racing Genk.-Club career:His natural position is at right back or right winger but he made his debut both for Anderlecht and for Belgium at right back. He can also play as a central defender and as a midfielder where his range of...
and Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo
Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo
Jeanvion Yulu-Matondo is a Belgian footballer with Congolese roots who currently plays for K.V.C. Westerlo.- Youth career :...
. Ma-Kalambay represented Belgium in the 2008 Olympic Games
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
and has since played for DR Congo at full international level.
Chelsea
Ma-Kalambay signed for ChelseaChelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
as a youth. He went on loan to Watford
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
in February 2006 to cover for the suspended Ben Foster
Ben Foster (footballer)
Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for West Bromwich Albion, on loan from Birmingham City, and internationally for the England national team.-Stoke City:...
. Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd suggested that he was interested in signing Ma-Kalambay in some capacity for the 2006–07
2006-07 in English football
The 2006–07 season was the 127th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* The number of divisions at Level 8 of the English football league system increased from four to five...
season, but this did not come to fruition.
On 18 October, Ma-Kalambay made the bench for Chelsea's 1-0 Champions League match
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
group stage win against Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
, due to injuries to Petr Čech
Petr Cech
Petr Čech is a Czech footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Czech Republic as a goalkeeper. Čech previously played for Viktoria Plzeň, Chmel Blšany, Sparta Prague, and Rennes. He was voted into the all-star team of Euro 2004 after helping his country reach the semi-finals...
and Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini
Carlo Cudicini is an Italian goalkeeper who currently plays for Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur. In his 10 years at Chelsea he established himself as one of England's best goalkeepers before injury and the arrival of Petr Cech displaced him as first-choice...
. After the arrival of Magnus Hedman
Magnus Hedman
Magnus Carl Hedman is a Swedish former football goalkeeper. He played 58 matches for the Sweden national football team, and represented his country at two FIFA World Cup and two European Championship tournaments....
, Ma-Kalambay was relegated to fifth choice goalkeeper at Chelsea.
Hibernian
Makalambay signed for SPLScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
in June 2007. He kept a clean sheet on his competitive debut for Hibs in a Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
win at Tynecastle
Tynecastle Stadium
Tynecastle Stadium is a football stadium situated in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh, Scotland, which is the home ground of Scottish Premier League club Hearts. Tynecastle has a seating capacity of 17,420, which makes it the seventh largest football stadium in Scotland...
against Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
. Despite making two bad errors in a 3–3 draw with Aberdeen
Aberdeen F.C.
Aberdeen Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Aberdeen...
, Makalambay then made a penalty save in his next match, a 1–0 win over Inverness
Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C.
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Football Club are a Scottish football club from Inverness who compete in the Scottish Premier League. They are currently managed by Terry Butcher and assistant manager Maurice Malpas...
.
Makalambay has received some criticism at times for his performances for Hibs, but he claimed during an interview with the Daily Record
Daily Record (Scotland)
The Daily Record is a Scottish tabloid newspaper based in Glasgow. It had been the best-selling daily paper in Scotland for many years with a paid circulation in August 2011 of 307,794 . It is now outsold by its arch-rival the Scottish Sun which in September 2010 had a circulation of 339,586 in...
in December 2008 that he is under greater scrutiny than goalkeepers of other Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
clubs. The newspaper surmised that this scrutiny was because of the high profile mistakes made by his immediate predecessors in the Hibs goal, Zibi Malkowski and Simon Brown
Simon Brown (footballer born 1976)
Simon James Brown is an English footballer, who currently plays for Cambridge United. Brown is a goalkeeper.-Playing career:...
. After making an error in an Edinburgh derby
Edinburgh derby
The Edinburgh derby is an informal title given to any football match played between Scottish clubs Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian , the two professional clubs based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The two clubs have a fierce rivalry that dates back to the clubs being founded in the mid-1870s, which...
, Makalambay was replaced by Grzegorz Szamotulski
Grzegorz Szamotulski
Grzegorz Szamotulski is a Polish footballer.He has had a nomadic career, playing for 11 different clubs in six different countries: Poland, Greece, Austria, Scotland, England and Israel.-Early career:...
at half-time due to a hamstring injury. He regained his place in the first team near the end of the season, putting in some impressive displays in draws against the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
and in an Edinburgh derby win at Tynecastle, but then conceded a bizarre goal against Aberdeen on the final day of the season.
Makalambay lost his place to new signing Graham Stack in the 2009–10 season. With his contract due to expire at the end of the season, Makalambay expressed a desire to open talks with Hibs about a new deal. Hibs signed goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
Graeme Smith on the first day of the January 2010 transfer window, however, which raised further doubt over Makalambay's future at the club. This doubt was confirmed on 14 May 2010 when it was announced that Ma-Kalambay's contract would not be renewed. After his release, Makalambay claimed that he had only been dropped due to his refusal to sign a new contract. He also claimed to have received offers from clubs in England and Spain.
Swansea City
In September 2010, Makalambay went on trial with Football League ChampionshipFootball League Championship
The Football League Championship is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League...
club Swansea City
Swansea City A.F.C.
Swansea City Association Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Swansea, Wales. One of the most successful clubs in Welsh football, it has won 10 Welsh Cups and led the English Football League First Division in December 1981, before finishing the season in 6th position...
. He signed a contract with the club until the end of the 2010–11 season later that month. He left the club at the end of his contract in 2011.
KV Mechelen
In October 2011, Makalambay signed a contract until the end of the season with Jupiler Pro League club KV Mechelen. He was signed because the second choice KV Mechelen goalkeeper, Wouter BiebauwWouter Biebauw
Wouter Biebauw is a Belgian football goalkeeper. He currently plays for K.V. Mechelen.-References:*...
, is injured for a long time. Makalambay will make his Pro League debut on 26 October 2011, as the first choice goalkeeper, Olivier Renard
Olivier Renard
Olivier Renard is a Belgian football goalkeeper who currently plays for KV Mechelen. He was transferred in January 2008 from Standard Liege...
, is injured as well.
International career
Makalambay was selected by Belgium in January 2008. He was then selected for their squad in the 2008 Olympic GamesFootball at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Football at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and several other cities in the People's Republic of China from 6 August to 23 August. Associations affiliated with FIFA were invited to send their full women's national teams and men's U-23 teams to participate...
. Makalambay played in only one match during the Olympics, when he came on as a substitute for Logan Bailly
Logan Bailly
Logan Bailly is a Belgian football goalkeeper who currently plays for Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax on loan from Borussia Mönchengladbach.- Career :...
during their 3–2 victory over Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in the quarter final. Belgium eventually finished in fourth place; Makalambay missed out on a medal due to Belgian defeats by Nigeria
Nigeria national football team
The Nigeria national football team, nicknamed the Super Eagles or Green Eagles, is the national team of Nigeria and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation . The team has ranked as high as 5th in the FIFA World Rankings, in April 1994...
and Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
.
Makalambay was selected by the Democratic Republic of Congo national football team for a friendly against Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia national football team
Saudi Arabia national football team is the national team of Saudi Arabia and is controlled by the Saudi Arabia Football Federation...
in May 2010. He made his international debut as Congo lost 2–0.