Offrande Zanzala
{{short description|Congolese footballer (born 1996)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Offrande Zanzala
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Offrande Jolynold Serge Zanzala{{cite web |url=https://www.efl.com/siteassets/efl-documents/202021/efl-squad-numbering-11.09.2020.pdf |title=Notification of shirt numbers: Crewe Alexandra |publisher=English Football League |page=25 |access-date=20 September 2020}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|11|08|df=y}}
| birth_place = Brazzaville, Congo
| position = Forward
| currentclub = Torquay United
| clubnumber = 17
| youthyears1 = 2008–2015
| youthclubs1 = Derby County
| years1 = 2015–2018
| clubs1 = Derby County
| caps1 = 0
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2016
| clubs2 = → Stevenage (loan)
| caps2 = 2
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2017
| clubs3 = → Chester (loan)
| caps3 = 4
| goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2018
| clubs4 = → Accrington Stanley (loan)
| caps4 = 6
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2018–2020
| clubs5 = Accrington Stanley
| caps5 = 51
| goals5 = 10
| years6 = 2020–2021
| clubs6 = Crewe Alexandra
| caps6 = 5
| goals6 = 0
| years7 = 2021
| clubs7 = Carlisle United
| caps7 = 22
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2021–2022
| clubs8 = Barrow
| caps8 = 19
| goals8 = 3
| years9 = 2022
| clubs9 = → Exeter City (loan)
| caps9 = 15
| goals9 = 2
| years10 = 2022–2024
| clubs10 = Newport County
| caps10 = 32
| goals10 = 6
| years11 = 2024–2025
| clubs11 = AFC Fylde
| caps11 = 12
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2025–
| clubs12 = Torquay United
| caps12 = 1
| goals12 = 0
| club-update = 18:50, 27 February 2025 (UTC)
}}
Offrande Jolynold Serge Zanzala (born 13 December 1997) is a Congolese professional footballer who plays as a forward for National League South club Torquay United.
Career
Zanzala emigrated with his family from the Republic of the Congo to Austria in 1999 due to the Second Republic of the Congo Civil War.{{cite web|title=Offrande Zanzala: 'Derby Gave Me A Chance After I Felt My Dream Was Gone'|url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/offrande-zanzala-derby-gave-me-a-chance-after-i-felt-my-dream-was-dead-2232630.aspx|website=dcfc.co.uk|access-date=27 February 2016}}
=Derby County=
Aged eight, he moved with his family to England, and, aged 12, signed with the Derby County Academy. He was named as the Under-21 Premier League Player of the Month in October 2015 after scoring four goals in three youth team matches.{{cite news|title=Rams starlet Offrande Zanzala named Barclays U21 Premier League player of the month|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/Derby-County-Rams-starlet-Offrande-Zanzala-named/story-28168789-detail/story.html|access-date=27 February 2016|work=Derby Telegraph|date=13 November 2015}} On 23 January 2016, he joined League Two side Stevenage on a one-month loan.{{cite news|title=Stevenage sign Deimantas Petravicius and Offrande Zanzala|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35391669|access-date=27 February 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=23 January 2016}} He made his debut in the Football League later that day, playing the first 67 minutes of a draw with Barnet at Broadhall Way.{{cite news|title=Stevenage's winless streak stretched to seven games after they were held to a draw by Barnet in League Two|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35330868|access-date=27 February 2016|work=BBC Sport|date=23 January 2016}} In February 2017, Zanzala signed a contract extension keeping him with the Rams until 2019.{{cite web |url=http://www.dcfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/offrande-zanzala-signs-new-derby-county-contract-3552343.aspx |title=Offrande Zanzala Signs New Derby County Contract |website=dcfc.co.uk}}
Zanzala joined National League club Chester on loan in October 2017.{{cite news|last1=Powell|first1=Dave|title=Derby County youngster Offrande Zanzala joins Chester FC on loan|url=https://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-youngster-offrande-zanzala-13761249|access-date=12 January 2018|work=The Chester Chronicle|date=14 October 2017}} He returned to Derby the following month after the expiry of his loan.{{cite news|last1=Wakefield|first1=Mark|title=Derby striker returns to club after loan spell|url=http://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/derby-county-striker-offrande-zanzala-789359|access-date=12 January 2018|work=Derby Telegraph|date=16 November 2017}} In January 2018 he was loaned out again, to Accrington Stanley in League Two.{{cite news|title=Offrande Zanzala: Accrington Stanley sign Derby striker and Akeel Francis|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/42654525|access-date=12 January 2018|work=BBC Sport|date=11 January 2018}} He scored his first professional goal on 21 April 2018, an injury-time penalty after he had been fouled, in a 0–4 win at Wycombe Wanderers.{{cite news |title=Wycombe Wanderers 0–4 Accrington Stanley |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43762797 |access-date=1 July 2020 |work=BBC Sport |date=21 April 2018}}
=Accrington Stanley=
On 2 August 2018, Zanzala rejoined Accrington, this time on a permanent deal, signing a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45048855|title=Offrande Zanzala: Derby County forward joins Accrington Stanley|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 August 2018|access-date=2 August 2018}} On 24 June 2020 it was announced Zanzala was leaving Accrington Stanley, having scored eight goals in his second season at the club.[https://www.accringtonstanley.co.uk/news/2020/june/retained-list Accrington Stanley: Retained list, 24 June 2020]/
=Crewe Alexandra=
On 1 July 2020, Crewe Alexandra announced Zanzala had joined the club on a one-year deal with the option of a second year.{{cite news |last1=Powell |first1=Dave |title=Crewe Alex seal deal for striker Offrande Zanzala from Accrington Stanley |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/sport/football/crewe-alex-seal-deal-striker-18485334 |access-date=1 July 2020 |work=Cheshire Live |date=1 July 2020}} He made his Crewe debut in a 3–2 victory at Bolton Wanderers in an EFL Trophy group game on 8 September 2020.{{cite web |title=Bolton Wanderers 2–3 Crewe Alexandra |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/september/bolton-2-3-crewe-efl-trophy/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=9 September 2020}} He scored his only goal for Crewe on 10 November 2020 in an EFL Trophy group game against Shrewsbury Town.{{cite web |title=Crewe 3–4 Shrewsbury |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2020/november/crewe-3-4-shrewsbury/ |website=Crewe Alexandra F.C. |access-date=11 November 2020}} On 2 January 2021 it was confirmed that Zanzala had been released by Crewe by mutual consent.{{cite news |title=Zanzala Leaves Club By Mutual Consent |url=https://www.crewealex.net/news/2021/january/zanzala-leaves-club-by-mutual-consent/ |access-date=4 January 2021 |work=CreweAlex.net |date=2 January 2020}}
=Carlisle United=
On 8 January 2021 he signed for Carlisle United.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/55586591|title=Carlisle sign ex-Crewe striker Zanzala|work=BBC Sport}} At the end of the season, Zanzala was offered a new contract with the club. {{cite web|url=https://www.carlisleunited.co.uk/news/2021/may/club-retained-and-released-list-2021/|title=CLUB: Retained and released list 20/21|website=www.carlisleunited.co.uk|date=14 May 2021|accessdate=7 June 2021}}
=Barrow=
On 7 June 2021, Zanzala joined Barrow on a two-year contract. {{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2021/june/070621-barrow-complete-signing-of-former-carlisle-united-forward-offrande-zanzala/|title=Offrande Zanzala Joins The Bluebirds|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=7 June 2021}} On 10 January 2022, Zanzala joined EFL League Two side Exeter City on loan for the remainder of the 2021–22 season.{{Cite web |url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2022/january/100122-barrow-striker-offrande-zanzala-joins-exeter-city-on-loan-for-the-rest-of-2021-22-season/ |title=Offrande Zanzala joins Exeter City on loan |publisher=Barrow AFC |date=10 January 2022 |accessdate=10 January 2022}} Zanzala was part of the Exeter team that achieved promotion as League Two runners-up. {{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60357319|title=Exeter City win promotion from League Two|publisher=BBC Sport|date=26 April 2022|accessdate=11 June 2022}}
On 11 June 2022, Zanzala had his contract terminated by mutual consent. {{cite web|url=https://www.barrowafc.com/news/2022/june/110622-barrow-afc-striker-offrande-zanzala-leaves-the-bluebirds-after-contract-cancelled-by-mutual-consent/|title=Offrande Zanzala Leaves The Bluebirds|website=www.barrowafc.com|date=11 June 2022}}
=Newport County=
On 21 June 2022, Zanzala joined Newport County on a one-year contract. {{cite web|url=https://www.newport-county.co.uk/news/20222/june/offrande-zanzala-becomes-signing-number-six/|title=Offrande Zanzala becomes signing number six!|website=www.newport-county.co.uk|date=21 June 2022}} He made his debut for Newport on 30 July 2022 in the starting line up for the 1–1 League Two draw against Sutton United.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62275053 Newport debut] After just two League Two matches Zanzala suffered a serious injury which ruled him out until December 2022.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62605398 Zanzala injury] He scored his first goal for Newport on 2 December 2022 on his return to the team as a second half substitute in the 2–1 League Two win against Crewe Alexandra.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/63752124 Zanzala first Newport goal] In April 2023 Zanzala was again ruled out with another serious injury[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65201573 Zanzala injured again] and he did not return to the Newport team until March 2024.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/68114929 Zanzala Newport return again]
Zanzala was released by Newport County at the end of the 2023-24 season.{{Cite web |date=2024-05-08 |title=Omar Bogle leaves Newport County as Will Evans has contract extended |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cnked8g0k5go |access-date=2024-05-08 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}
=AFC Fylde=
On 22 July 2024, Zanzala joined National League side AFC Fylde on a one-year deal. {{cite web|url=https://www.afcfylde.co.uk/offrande-zanzala-joins-the-coasters/|title=Offrande Zanzala joins the Coasters|website=www.afcfylde.co.uk|date=22 July 2024|accessdate=23 July 2024}} He departed the club by mutual consent on 3 February 2025. {{cite web|url=https://afcfylde.co.uk/offrande-zanzala-leaves-by-mutual-consent/|title=Offrande Zanzala Leaves By Mutual Consent|website=afcfylde.co.uk|date=3 February 2025|accessdate=27 February 2025}}
=Torquay United=
Personal life
Zanzala has three brothers he has nephews and nieces. He is a devout Christian who prays before every game.{{cite web|url=http://xtheline.co.uk/offrande-zanzala-interview/|work=Cross The Line|title=Surviving in the jungle away from war to joining exeter city Offrande Zanzala: "God is my everything"|first=Ollie|last=Baines|date=25 August 2016|access-date=15 December 2016}} He went to school with Kwame Thomas and the two are still good friends,{{cite web|url=http://xtheline.co.uk/coventry-city-england-u20-international-kwame-thomas-jesus-source-success/|work=Cross The Line|title=Coventry City and England U20 international, Kwame Thomas: "Jesus is the source of my success"|first=Ollie|last=Baines|date=21 August 2016|access-date=15 December 2016}} as they both began their pro careers with Derby.
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 4 September 2024}}
{{notelist}}
Honours
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Soccerbase}}
- {{Soccerway|offrande-zanzala/432706}}
{{Torquay United F.C. squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zanzala, Offrande}}
Category:Footballers from Brazzaville
Category:Republic of the Congo men's footballers
Category:Men's association football forwards
Category:Republic of the Congo emigrants to Austria
Category:Republic of the Congo expatriate men's footballers
Category:Republic of the Congo expatriate sportspeople in England
Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England
Category:Derby County F.C. players
Category:Stevenage F.C. players
Category:Accrington Stanley F.C. players
Category:Crewe Alexandra F.C. players
Category:Carlisle United F.C. players
Category:Barrow A.F.C. players
Category:Exeter City F.C. players
Category:Newport County A.F.C. players
Category:Torquay United F.C. players
Category:English Football League players