Angelo Balanta
Encyclopedia
Angelo Jasiel Balanta is a Colombian
footballer who plays for MK Dons
on loan from Queens Park Rangers
as a striker.
, Colombia
, Balanta moved to England and grew up in Greenford
and moved to Fulham
as a youth where he attended Hurlingham & Chelsea Secondary school. Balanta progressed through the Queens Park Rangers'
youth system before being promoted to the first team in 2007.
He was spotted by QPR scouts playing for CB Hounslow United
who play in The Combined County Football Division. He signed his first professional
contract with QPR in January 2008, which will keep him at the club until 2010 and was given shirt number 36.
He made his first team debut when we was brought on as a substitute, replacing Ben Sahar
, against Crystal Palace
on 4 December 2007. He made his first start against Watford
on 29 December 2007. In the 10th minute of the game, Balanta put Dexter Blackstock
through with a looping ball which resulted in him being fouled and a penalty kick
being given, which was scored by Martin Rowlands
. In the 40th minute, Balanta won an aerial challenge against Lloyd Doyley
and found unmarked Martin Rowlands
with a lob. Rowlands scored with a chip over Richard Lee
from an acute angle. Balanta is highly rated at QPR and is the latest talent to break through the youth set up at Loftus Road
. On 5 January 2008, he made his FA Cup
debut against Chelsea
, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for new signing Hogan Ephraim
. On 23 February 2008, Balanta scored his first senior goal for QPR against Sheffield United
at Loftus Road. The goal came in the 19th minute when Hogan Ephraim
whipped in a cross into the near post where Balanta latched onto the ball. Rangers drew the game 1–1.
At the start of the 2008–09
season, new manager Iain Dowie
handed Balanta the number 19 shirt and gave him his first start in a League Cup
third round game away at Swindon Town
, which was won 3–2, with Balanta scoring the first goal. On 13 November 2008, Balanta moved on loan to League Two
side Wycombe Wanderers
for three months. He was recalled from his loan spell two weeks early having scored three goals in 11 games.
In June 2010 Balanta moved on loan to for the entire 2010–11
season. On 1 August 2011 Balanta returned to MK Dons for a five-month loan.
side placed Balanta on standby as a replacement were a player to withdraw from the team.
Colombian people
Colombian people are from a multiethnic Spanish speaking nation in South America called Colombia. Colombians are predominantly Roman Catholic and are a mixture of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians.-Demography:...
footballer who plays for MK Dons
Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
.Milton Keynes Dons Football Club is an English professional football club founded in 2004 and based since 2007 at Stadium mk, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire...
on loan from Queens Park Rangers
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
as a striker.
Club career
Born in Santiago de CaliSantiago de Cali
Santiago de Cali , simply referred to as Cali, is a city in western Colombia and the capital of the Valle del Cauca Department. With a population of 2.5 million, Cali is the third largest city in the country. It has one of the fastest growing economies and infrastructure in the country because...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Balanta moved to England and grew up in Greenford
Greenford
Greenford is a large suburb in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, UK. It was historically an ancient parish in the former county of Middlesex. The most prominent landmarks in the suburb are the A40, a major dual-carriageway; Horsenden Hill, above sea level; the small Parish Church of...
and moved to Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
as a youth where he attended Hurlingham & Chelsea Secondary school. Balanta progressed through the Queens Park Rangers'
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
youth system before being promoted to the first team in 2007.
He was spotted by QPR scouts playing for CB Hounslow United
CB Hounslow United F.C.
CB Hounslow United F.C. is an English football club based in Osterley, Greater London. The club are currently members of Division One of the Combined Counties League and play at the Osterley Sports Ground.-History:...
who play in The Combined County Football Division. He signed his first professional
Professional
A professional is a person who is paid to undertake a specialised set of tasks and to complete them for a fee. The traditional professions were doctors, lawyers, clergymen, and commissioned military officers. Today, the term is applied to estate agents, surveyors , environmental scientists,...
contract with QPR in January 2008, which will keep him at the club until 2010 and was given shirt number 36.
He made his first team debut when we was brought on as a substitute, replacing Ben Sahar
Ben Sahar
Ben Sahar is an Israeli football striker who currently plays for Ligue 1 side Auxerre on loan from Espanyol.At just 16, Sahar was already the equivalent of a second-year apprentice at Chelsea. He first caught Chelsea's eye in an Under-16 fixture against Ireland in 2004 and has since played for the...
, against Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
on 4 December 2007. He made his first start against 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...
on 29 December 2007. In the 10th minute of the game, Balanta put Dexter Blackstock
Dexter Blackstock
Dexter Anthony Titus Blackstock is an English footballer who currently plays for Nottingham Forest in the Football League Championship. He plays as a centre-forward.-Southampton:...
through with a looping ball which resulted in him being fouled and a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
being given, which was scored by Martin Rowlands
Martin Rowlands
Martin Charles Rowlands is an English - born - Irish footballer who plays for Wycombe Wanderers F.C on loan from Queens Park Rangers F.C...
. In the 40th minute, Balanta won an aerial challenge against Lloyd Doyley
Lloyd Doyley
Lloyd Colin Doyley is an English footballer who plays for Watford as a defender. He is primarily a right-back, but can also play as a centre-back and left-back. He is the longest-serving current player for the Hornets, and is contracted until 2012.- Watford : Doyley was born in Whitechapel, London...
and found unmarked Martin Rowlands
Martin Rowlands
Martin Charles Rowlands is an English - born - Irish footballer who plays for Wycombe Wanderers F.C on loan from Queens Park Rangers F.C...
with a lob. Rowlands scored with a chip over Richard Lee
Richard Lee
Richard Lee may refer to:*Richard Lee , herald and Clarenceux King of Arms in the reign of Elizabeth I of England*Sir Richard Lee , British military engineer...
from an acute angle. Balanta is highly rated at QPR and is the latest talent to break through the youth set up at Loftus Road
Loftus Road
Loftus Road is a football stadium in Shepherd's Bush, London. It is home to the English football team Queens Park Rangers of the Premier League and has a capacity of around 18,500. The four stands are called the Loftus Road End , Ellerslie Road Stand, South Africa Road Stand and the School End,...
. On 5 January 2008, he made his FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
debut against Chelsea
Chelsea 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...
, coming on as a 65th minute substitute for new signing Hogan Ephraim
Hogan Ephraim
Hogan Phillip Ephraim is an English football player. He plays for Charlton Athletic on loan from Queens Park Rangers. He is a graduate of the West Ham United Academy and an England Under-19 international. His primary position is as a winger but he can also play as a forward.-Background:Ephraim was...
. On 23 February 2008, Balanta scored his first senior goal for QPR against Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
at Loftus Road. The goal came in the 19th minute when Hogan Ephraim
Hogan Ephraim
Hogan Phillip Ephraim is an English football player. He plays for Charlton Athletic on loan from Queens Park Rangers. He is a graduate of the West Ham United Academy and an England Under-19 international. His primary position is as a winger but he can also play as a forward.-Background:Ephraim was...
whipped in a cross into the near post where Balanta latched onto the ball. Rangers drew the game 1–1.
At the start of the 2008–09
2008–09 in English football
The 2008–09 season was the 129th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* West Bromwich Albion, Stoke City and Hull City were all playing in the Premier League after winning promotion from the Championship last season. Stoke returned to the top flight after a 23-year absence, while...
season, new manager Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie
Iain Dowie is a former footballer and manager. He is currently without a club. He has previously managed Hull City and Queens Park Rangers and was assistant manager of Newcastle United...
handed Balanta the number 19 shirt and gave him his first start in a League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
third round game away at Swindon Town
Swindon Town F.C.
Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011...
, which was won 3–2, with Balanta scoring the first goal. On 13 November 2008, Balanta moved on loan to League Two
Football League Two
Football League Two is the third-highest division of The Football League and fourth-highest division overall in the English football league system....
side Wycombe Wanderers
Wycombe Wanderers F.C.
Wycombe Wanderers Football Club is an English professional football team from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, which has been promoted to Football League One after finishing third in Football League Two in the season 2010–11. The club's nicknames are "The Chairboys" and "The Blues", and they play...
for three months. He was recalled from his loan spell two weeks early having scored three goals in 11 games.
In June 2010 Balanta moved on loan to for the entire 2010–11
2010–11 in English football
The 2010–11 season was the 131st season of competitive football in England.The season began on 6 August 2010 for the Football Leagues, with the Premier League and Football Conference both starting eight days later on 14 August 2010. The Championship, League One, and League Two ended on 7 May...
season. On 1 August 2011 Balanta returned to MK Dons for a five-month loan.
International career
In September 2008, the England Under-19England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
side placed Balanta on standby as a replacement were a player to withdraw from the team.
External links
- Angelo Balanta profile at the Queens Park Rangers website
- Angelo Balanta MK:Dons Profile