Africa United by Steve Bloomfield

Author:Steve Bloomfield [Bloomfield, Steve]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2010-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

Mazembe meet Heartland of Nigeria in the final, which is played over two legs—one in Owerri and one in Lubumbashi. Heartland win the first leg 2–1. Grazito appears to be confident before the return match, telling reporters he’s certain they will win. Behind the scenes things are a bit more tense. Katumbi whisks the team off to Zimbabwe to prepare away from the glare of the media.

A 1–0 win for Mazembe will give them victory by virtue of scoring more goals away from home. With seventeen minutes to go, the score is still 0–0. Then a Heartland defender heads the ball into his own goal, and the stadium erupts. Mazembe hold on for the win.

The party at the governor’s residence is still going by the time the sun rises the next morning.

The success of TP Mazembe has helped boost Katumbi’s profile across the country. Katumbi has been quick to promote Mazembe’s success as Congo’s success. “We are doing this for Congo,” he says. “The whole country can take pride in what we are achieving.” There’s history here. When Mazembe won the African title in 1968 and 1969, President Mobutu refused to celebrate. Katanga was a troublesome province and not one he wished to promote.

Katumbi isn’t the only Congolese leader with a passion for soccer. The commander of the Congolese army, General Gabriel Amisi, owns Maniema Union, while the governor of Kinshasa, Andre Kimbuta, used to run AS Vita Club.

A quick glance at Congo’s budget for the first quarter of 2009 gives an idea of the importance which the Congolese government attaches to sport. The justice department was allocated a mere $2 million, while the sports ministry was given $5.5 million.

Mazembe’s success and Katumbi’s raised profile have caused tensions between him and President Kabila. The two men were close. It was Kabila who invited Katumbi back into the country after his father had forced him into exile. Katumbi’s brother had fallen out with Kabila père, leading to a row which dragged in the rest of the family. Kabila Jr. asked Katumbi to stand for election in Katanga, and the pair were seen as allies.

But Katumbi has been spoken of as a potential presidential candidate in 2011, possibly challenging Kabila. Katumbi denies he’s interested, and Kabila made a point of attending the final in Lubumbashi.

“I have no interest in politics,” Katumbi insists. “If I had to choose between politics and my soccer club I would choose soccer.” Which is just the sort of thing a politician would say.

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