[2][3] He began his senior career in 2004 at Angolan club, Petro Atletico in his hometown of Luanda, showing an appetite for goals in his three-seasons spell.
[5] Following this, he was loaned out to Portuguese side Boavista for the duration of the 2007–08 season, making his debut on 15 September 2007 under coach Jaime Pacheco in a 0–0 with Leixões, his evolution being praised by the press.
[2][14] Zé Kalanga played 22 league games, helping The Panthers finish on the 9th place, but the club ended up being relegated because of referee corruption in the 2003–04 season.
[3][20] Coach Oliveira Gonçalves took him in the squad for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, using him in a loss with Cameroon and a victory with Togo as the team failed to pass the group stage.
[3][26] Zé Kalanga's last appearance for the national team took place on 3 March 2010 in a friendly which ended 1–1 with Latvia, having a total of 55 matches with six goals scored for the Black Sable antelopes.