Richard Ekunde

Richard Ntomba Ekunde (born 4 August 1982) is a Congolese football player who previously played mainly in Sweden.

Career

Ekunde began playing football in his home country in Kinshasa City FC. In 2002 he moved like his team mate René Makondele and Yannick Bapupa from Kinshasa to Sweden to Djurgårdens IF. The club won the Swedish championship in 2002 and 2003, however, Richard Ekunde did not matter and came in Allsvenskan hardly used. For this reason, the club gave him to the second division Åtvidabergs FF, where he was able to prevail as a regular player. With his performance, he played himself in the national football team of the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he played the end of 2003 against South Africa and the Ivory Coast his first two matches. In the match against the Ivory Coast Ekunde suffered a torn ACL, so it turned out longer term. Therefore Djurgårdens IF extended the loan period with Åtvidabergs FF, which obliged ultimately determined the player. In the Superettan he drew attention to himself as a regular player the Allsvenskanklub GAIS Gothenburg. In early 2006, he moved within Sweden and was also a regular in Gothenburg. He has a contract until 2012. 2007 voted him the supporters of the club player of the year.

He is considered the best central defender of the Allsvenskan and is often compared with Fabio Cannavaro of Real Madrid.