Kandol: Tresor Osmar (Tresor)

2006-Current (Player Details)

Striker

Born: Banga, Congo: 20-08-1981

Debut: v Plymouth Argyle (a) (substitute): 25-11-2006

6’1” 11st 7lb (2006)

Kandol started his League career as a trainee with Luton Town in August 1998. He stayed for three years and scored five times in twenty-six appearances, of which fourteen were as a substitute. He moved to Cambridge United on a free transfer in August 2001 and made two starts and another two off the bench there, without scoring, until he moved on to Bournemouth in October 2001. He scored once in fifteen games, all off the bench apart from four starts, before he went to Non-League football with Thurrock in August 2003. He really hit his straps with seventy-eight goals in one hundred and thirteen appearances in two seasons before he moved to another Non-League club, Dagenham and Redbridge and scored six goals in eleven starts and two off the bench appearances. While at Dagenham and Redbridge he was loaned to Darlington from November 2005 to January 2006, where he scored twice in six starts and one substitute appearances. On 31st January 2006 he signed for Barnet on a free transfer He carried on his good scoring record and had netted seventeen times in thirty-four, including four as a substitute, appearances with them before Leeds took him to Elland Road, initially on a two month loan on 23rd November 2006. He made his debut two days later as a substitute replacing Robbie Blake in the 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle. After scoring once in nine appearances Leeds signed him permanently for £200,000 on 3rd January 2007, he had not improved his goal tally but had finished up making eleven starts and seven substitute appearances by the end of the season. Kandol impressed in the opening stages of the 2007-08 season, and on 9th September 2007, he sat top of the League One scoring charts. His first of the season was a last minute header against Tranmere Rovers in Leeds' first ever game in the third tier of English football. He seemed to be forming a successful strike partnership with Jermaine Beckford and become famous with the Leeds crowd for his trademark somersault-and-flip goal celebration. Kandol is the cousin of the Al-Arabi player Lomana Lua Lua and Newcastle United player Kazenga Lua Lua. Kandol's performances in the early part of the 2007-08 campaign won over Leeds fans, who had given him abuse for his under-par performances in the past. However, as his goalscoring declined so did his approval rating. It did not stop him from being called up into the DR Congo squad on 12th March 2008. He made his International appearance for Congo DR against Gabon on 25th March 2008. On the 6th August 2008, Kandol joined Millwall on a six month loan deal until January 2009. He recovered his scoring touch and scored in under thirteen seconds against Oldham Athletic. He was sent off On 13 September 2008 Kandol was sent off against Leicester City, marking his return from a three-match ban in stunning fashion with two goals against Tranmere Rovers. His loan period expired on 28th January 2009 and he returned to Leeds. While at Millwall he had scored eight League goals in eighteen appearances, of which two were off the bench. He also started two F.A. Cup games, made one substitute appearance in the League Cup and started one other game, all without scoring. On 30th January he was on his travels once more when he was loaned to CCCL side Charlton Athletic until 3rd May 2009. He pleased his new club by scoring twice against Watford in his second game for them. While at the Valley he scored two League goals from ten starts and three games from the bench. With Kandol having spent most of the 2008-09 season on loan and Leeds' three main strikers Beckford, Becchio and Snodgrass all in good scoring form it was obvious that Kandol was way down the pecking order, but he and Enoch Showunmi both showed they were not spent forces as both scored hat-tricks in the same Reserve match. However with American strikers Mike Grella and Davide Sommer both showing good scoring touch there is much competition and Kandol's future may be away from Elland Road. This was borne out when Kandol was confined to cameo roles for most of the season and was placed on the open to transfer list at the end of the 2009-10 season.