AS Vita Club 27 year old enterprising forward Heritier Luvumbu Nzinga will miss the first semi final clash of the ongoing CHAN tournament after sustaining a knee injury in their quarterfinal match against hosts Rwanda.

Confirming the loss,Congolese head coach Florent Ibenge reiterated that there should be no worries as he has some good players that he can field to replace the player.

‘It is a big blow to us losing Luvumbu to a knee injury was the worst thing ,but I have players equal to the task,you know we have had our clubs playing well in the continentals,AS Vita Club reached the 2014 Finals and TP Mazembe won the 2016 Championships’

The coach will have to rely on TP Mazembe Jonathan Bolingi Mpangi and AS Vita Club striker Jean Marc Makusu for goals.

He will however expect more of attacking prowess of DC Motema Pembe attacking midfielder Doxa Gikanji in search of goals upfront.

A total of five players were booked in their quarter final match against Rwanda,and coach Ibenge said the match was physical though he is expecting a less physical game from the speedy Guineans.

The players who were booked included AS Vita Club trio of Joyce Lomalisa,Padou Bompunga who scored the winning goal against Rwanda, and Nelson Munganga.
Others are Jonathan Bolingi Mpangi who plies his trade with TP Mazembe and St Eloi Lupopo’s Junior Baometu.

Congo DR will play the first semi final against Guinea tomorrow 4 pm at the Stade Amahoro in Kigali.

Austin Oduor

talking African football