Joël Kimwaki is set for an emotionally charged return to his former club this Wednesday at 3 p.m. for the playoffs, where he will face DCMP (Daring Club Motema Pembe), the team where he spent several memorable years. The match promises to be a poignant moment for the TP Mazembe defender, who spent more than two years at DCMP, during which he won the Linafoot in 2008 and the Congo Cup in 2009.
Reflecting on the upcoming encounter, Kimwaki spoke with a mix of excitement and nostalgia, acknowledging the special nature of the match. “This match will definitely do something for me. I’ll be playing against guys I’ve seen grow up and known for several years. I can’t wait,” he explained.
Although the match is filled with personal history and memories, Kimwaki remains focused on the objective at hand: securing a win for Mazembe. “Facing DCMP, for any former player, remains a special match. I spent more than two years there, I won the Linafoot and Congo Cup, so there is an emotional side. But out of respect for what I did there, I want to play the best possible match against them.”
Kimwaki also mentioned the motivation of DCMP players, who will undoubtedly be keen to impress the Mazembe management, hoping for a potential future move to the club. Regardless of the emotions surrounding the encounter, he stressed that the game would be treated like any other — a match where TP Mazembe must come out victorious.
The buildup to this match will surely be an emotional one for the Congolese football fans as well, as Kimwaki faces old friends and teammates on the field.
