DANCING LEOPARDS TACKLE STARS: Can Kenya prevent DR Congo from whipping with Wazekwa’s ‘Fimbu’?

Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga trains at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on March 22, 2017. Kenyan national team trains ahead of their double-header international friendlies against Uganda and DRC Congo on March 22, and 26, 2017 Democratic Republic of the Congo's players celebrate their third goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group C football match between Togo and DR Congo in Port-Gentil on January 24, 2017. / AFP PHOTO

The Congolese are a proud people. Like the moniker of their national football team, the Leopard, which does not feast on a prey it did not kill, the Congolese like the choicest of drinks, food, fashion, music and eh... you guessed right. Women.

Their love for style is to be noted also in a movement that started in Congo during the colonial days called the The Sapeurs, which stands for Societe des Ambianceurs et des Personnes Elegantes (the Society of Tastemakers and Elegant People).

The late Congolese music crooner Papa Wemba was a supporter of the movement, which a band of men turn the art of dressing into a cultural statement on a daily basis.

Stephen Doig writes in the Telegraph that, “the Sapeurs sense of style is one of joyous exuberance, flamboyant colour, polished tailoring and impeccable attention to detail; suits in periwinkle pink, buttercup yellow and poison green...”

Music, particularly rhumba and in days gone by ndombolo and soukous, is a way of life and more recently a re-awaking of sorts of their football spurred by the success of glamour club TP Mazembe has captured the imagination of mineral rich Central African country of slightly under 80 million people.

Congolese musicians often fuse rhumba lyrics with names of footballers and one often hear such names Tresor Mputu especially in Ferre Gola’s hits, goalkeeper Ley Matampi in Metrau Efface’s hit Wumela, or Hull City’s Dieumerci Mbokani names spicing up their lyrics.

The Leopards, who face Harambee Stars today in Machakos in an international friendly have adopted Felix Wazekwa’s dance style Fimbu na Fimbu (from Swahili word fimbo) whenever they score a goal.

DR Congo suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Kenya in Kinshasa on October 4 last year and if the squad coach Florent Ibenge Ikwange has brought to Nairobi is anything to go by, then the Leopards are on a revenge mission, if only to restore their pride.

In a show of might and intent, Ibenge has brought along Marcel Jany Emille Tisserand (FC Ingolstadt), Neeskens Kebano (Fulham), Cedric Bakambu (Villareal), Steven Nzonzi (Seville), Chancel Mbemba Mangulu (Newcastle), Gael Kakuta (Deportivo) and Junior Kabananga Kalonji (Astana) more often the orchestrator of Fimbu na Fimbu because of his scoring prowess.

Tusker, then Kenya Breweries in 1994 felt the brunt of Motema Pembe in the final of Africa Cup Winners Cup. Having drawn 2-2 in Kinshasa thanks to late Patrick Nachok and Henry Motego goals, rhumba-dancing Motema Pembe put three goals past the late Joseph Kibera.

Kenya’s Stanley Okumbi is not one to be cowed though. With nine matches without a loss, Okumbi has defied critics so far.

Basing his strategy on containing opponents with solid midfield play and using the strength of budding forward Michael Olunga, Okumbi insists his mission is to find a team with the right mix and balance to face the best in the continent.

Against Uganda on Thursday, Okumbi rested most of his foreign legion with an eye on today’s fixture. Tottenham’s Victor Wanyama should lead a more fortified line-up featuring David Owino ‘Calabar’ in defence, Johanna Omollo and Olunga, scorer of the winning goal in Kinshasa.