The Dons’ newest professional, Kabongo Tshimanga, has scored a whopping 38 goals already this season, but the striker admits he should have had more!
Tshimanga, who put pen-to-paper on a 18-month deal with an option on Friday, has scored four braces and three hat-tricks for the Under-18s this season, as well as one stand-out match, against Leyton Orient, where he netted four times.
“It’s been really good scoring 38 goals but I feel like I could have had even more,” Tshimanga told mkdons.com after signing his professional contract. “Still, I’m quite pleased with that total, especially as we’re only at the start of January.”
Tshimanga, who has been with the Club since the age of 9, joins a long list of players to have progressed through the youth set-up at MK1 and he was keen to thank Karl Robinson, Mike Dove and all the academy coaches for helping him to accomplish that.
“The Gaffer, Mike Dove and all the coaches in the academy have played a big part in me getting here. They have helped me through the whole process of becoming the striker that I am and hopefully that is showing with the amount of goals I’ve scored.”
As well as featuring – and starring – regularly for the Under-18s, Tshimanga has also represented the Dons in the Development League Cup and, in November, he made his senior debut as a substitute in the FA Cup victory over Port Vale.
“It has been really good playing in the development team because it is a big step up from youth team. You are coming up against first-team players and that makes it more of a challenge.
“It was also a great experience for me coming on against Port Vale and making my first-team debut. I’ve been able to learn off the likes of Benik Afobe and Will Grigg and that will only improve me as a footballer.”
“It’s been really good scoring 38 goals but I feel like I could have had even more,” Tshimanga told mkdons.com after signing his professional contract. “Still, I’m quite pleased with that total, especially as we’re only at the start of January.”
Tshimanga, who has been with the Club since the age of 9, joins a long list of players to have progressed through the youth set-up at MK1 and he was keen to thank Karl Robinson, Mike Dove and all the academy coaches for helping him to accomplish that.
“The Gaffer, Mike Dove and all the coaches in the academy have played a big part in me getting here. They have helped me through the whole process of becoming the striker that I am and hopefully that is showing with the amount of goals I’ve scored.”
As well as featuring – and starring – regularly for the Under-18s, Tshimanga has also represented the Dons in the Development League Cup and, in November, he made his senior debut as a substitute in the FA Cup victory over Port Vale.
“It has been really good playing in the development team because it is a big step up from youth team. You are coming up against first-team players and that makes it more of a challenge.
“It was also a great experience for me coming on against Port Vale and making my first-team debut. I’ve been able to learn off the likes of Benik Afobe and Will Grigg and that will only improve me as a footballer.”
