Congolese aiming to restore pride

KINSHASA (Reuters) -- A renewed football team from the war-divided Democratic Republic of Congo is hoping to restore national pride when it takes the pitch at the African Nations Cup finals.

Congo's national team was once the toast of the continent when it became the first country from sub-Saharan Africa to qualify for the World Cup in 1974. Then-dictator Mobutu Sese Seko rewarded each player with a new car and house.

But 1974 was also the last time the former Zaire won the Nations Cup, defeating Ghana 1-0 in Ethiopia.

"Since then, we haven't worked hard at maintaining success," said Ngoyi Kapuka, a veteran sports journalist for RTNC, Congo's national broadcaster.

"For more than 20 years, the budget hasn't been there, the organisation wasn't there and all our best players went to play in Europe."

Without key professional players, Congo was eliminated in the first round of the Nations Cup finals in 2000.

But this year may be different. A number of top Congolese professionals have promised to represent their country and President Joseph Kabila has injected US$1.1 million into the team, allowing it to spend the last three months training in South Africa, Turkey and Belgium.

"It's been years since the national team has had preparation like this and we hope it will yield results. It's our dream to reach the finals," said Kapuka.

First, however, Congo will have to get past defending champion Cameroon in its opening match on January 20. Ivory Coast and Togo are also in the same pool.

The backbone of the Congolese team will be players such as Marcel Kibemba M'bayo, a 23-year-old midfielder with Turkey's Genclerbirligi, Alain Masudi of Austria's Sturm Graz and Monaco's goal king Shabani Nonda, who was born in Burundi, but holds Congolese citizenship.

Too little time?

But many European-based professionals, including winger Jason Mayele from Italy's surprise team of the season Chievo, defender Nzelo Lembi from Belgium's league leader Bruges and German-born midfielder Michel Dinzey, who now plays in Norway, did not join the team until early January.

A former Congolese captain fears 11 days training in Burkina Faso before heading to Mali is not enough for the team to gel.

"There will not be the necessary cohesion with the other players. Congo only has about four or five good professionals and against an experienced, determined team like Cameroon, I'm not so sure how they'll do," said Eugene Kabongo, who spent 11 years on the Zairian national team and enjoyed a lengthy career in Europe with Lyon, Anderlecht and Bastia.

"Now there may be money, but there is still the same lack of organization and infrastructure. In the end, it's the players who lose," he added.

The national team, known locally as the Simbas, is coached by Louis Watunda, who took the country to the 1998 Nations Cup semifinals.

Congo has no players from its eastern and northern provinces, which are occupied by Rwandan and Ugandan-backed rebels.

Africa's third largest country has been divided since war broke out in 1998. But a good showing could have a galvanizing effect on the shattered nation as opposing sides in the conflict head to peace talks in South Africa at the end of the month, Kapuka said.

"If we do reach the final, it will uplift the country and be a good start to a year in which we really hope to improve our situation," he said. "We may be divided, but sports and music keeps the Congolese people together."

 

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