Gilles Binya

Gilles Augustin Binya (born 29 August 1984) is a Cameroonian professional footballer who plays for Turkish club Elazığspor as a defensive midfielder.

Club career

Born in Yaoundé, Binya signed for S.L. Benfica for 2007–08, after playing for three years for Algerian club MC Oran. At the beginning of the season the Portuguese planned to loan him to fellow Primeira Liga club C.F. Estrela da Amadora for a year, but with the substitution of Fernando Santos for José Antonio Camacho the deal was cancelled, and the player remained with Benfica.

While playing for Benfica in the UEFA Champions League in November 2007, Binya was shown a straight red card by referee Martin Hansson, following a dangerous challenge on Celtic's Scott Brown. On 16 November 2007 UEFA gave him a six-match ban, meaning that he would play no further part in the remaining two Champions League group games against A.C. Milan and FC Shakhtar Donetsk, and the four following European matches.

Domestically, Binya finished the campaign with 16 league appearances, profitting from forced absences to first-choice holding midfielder, Portuguese international Petit. In 2008–09 he was used rarely, but still collected four yellow cards in only seven games (including two in a 0–2 loss at C.D. Trofense); at the season's closure he was deemed surplus to requirements, going on to serve a loan at Switzerland's Neuchâtel Xamax.

On 16 June 2010, Binya was signed by Neuchâtel on a three-year contract. In August of the following year, he was loaned to Gaziantepspor in the Süper Lig, with the move being made permanent subsequently.

International career

Binya was first called up to the Cameroonian national team in October 2007, by national manager Otto Pfister. Subsequently he went on to represent his country at the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations, where Cameroon finished second to Egypt – Pfister was also the team's coach.