The Marie Olive Lembe Kabila tournament: a celebration of Congolese football
On Sunday July 29, 2023, the final of the Marie Olive Lembe Kabila tournament took place at the OKAL field in Lingwala, Kinshasa. This sporting event, organized in honor of Marie Olive Lembe Kabila, brought together more than 50 men’s teams from different regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The final opposed FC Pascal from Tshangu to Masina, dressed in red, and KAJ Sport from Lukunga to Lingwala, dressed in blue. Despite an intense 90-minute clash, neither team managed to take the lead and the match ended in a draw.
However, to decide between the finalists, shots on goal were necessary. After a breathless session, the KAJ Sport team finally took the victory with a score of 3-2. Despite two missed penalties at the start of the session, the team rose to the challenge and lifted the coveted trophy.
In addition to the final duel, the tournament also offered a small final between the “Reste” and “Relève” teams, won by “Reste” with a score of 1-0. All participating teams were rewarded by Marie Olive Lembe Kabila, who presented envelopes to players based on their journey in the tournament.
The initiator of this tournament, Papy TAMBA l’Archange, stressed the importance of promoting Congolese football by detecting new talents. This first men’s edition was a real success, without any incident or fight. In addition, Grandpa TAMBA the Archangel announced his ambition to develop the tournament beyond Kinshasa, by extending its influence to other provinces of the country.
The celebration of Marie Olive Lembe Kabila’s birthday was also marked by a convivial moment at Restaurant Food 00243, where champagne and birthday gifts were shared. IPOLK representations across the Democratic Republic of Congo also participated in this annual event by sending their warm wishes to “Mama wa Rohoo”.
The Marie Olive Lembe Kabila tournament therefore offered a unique opportunity to celebrate Congolese football and showcase new talent. This sporting event met with real enthusiasm and brought together football enthusiasts across the country