Ex-Jomo Cosmos youth shows how to win

Soccer genes... Jonathan Bolingi Merikani, DR Congo striker, spent time at Jomo Cosmos when he was a teen. Today he boasts gold medals from CAF Champions League and CHAN

TODAY the son of former Jomo Cosmos goalkeeper is an African champion, again. This time following DR Congo's 3-0 victory over Mali in the final of the CHAN (African Nations Championship) on Sunday evening. And to add the cherry on top, Jonathan Bolingi Merikani also scored on the fine evening in the Rwandan capital of Kigali. The 21-year-old Bolingi also has a CAF Champions League gold medal, with TP Mazembe of Lubumbashi . He is the son of Mpangi Merikani, former Jomo Cosmos goalkeeper. When still a teen Bolingi also spent time at Cosmos, where his father is still employed as goalkeepers coach. 

Mpangi Merikani, now that's an interesting name from the past. The slightly built keeper was more known for his antics between the posts during Jomo Cosmos' glory years more than 15 years ago, doing something akin to what TP Mazembe's Robert Kidiaba is known for today.

Merikani's eccentricity came with the territory, as we saw with other keepers from DRC in those earlier years of the PSL. These Congolese goalkeeper showmen included Pelewe Delamogo (AmaZulu), Makweni Mayala (Orlando Pirates) and Francis Chansa, who played for 10 clubs in SA. A more businesslike Botende Eshele, formerly with Kaizer Chiefs, was different in his approach, though some will vouch for some oddity about him. My point overall is that Congolese goalkeepers brought a particular flavour to the PSL in South Africa and contributed immensely towards the growth of this brand.

I am deliberately citing the achievement of Mpangi Merikani's son because he shone in a hugely successful championship which was largely ignored in SA. CHAN is a nations cup open to players based in their home leagues. South Africa, which sells the PSL as the best league in Africa, was absent after they were eliminated in the qualifiers by Angola. Elimination in the qualifying rounds is part of life in football, but for the country which harbours ambitions to be the best in Africa it was just bad to just to walk away from the Angola loss without bother, as SA did. In fact, SA did not show much care for the two-legged qualifier against Angola because at the same time the national head coach was away with the senior national team, playing friendlies in the Americas. 

Old block... Mpangi Merikani, Jomo Cosmos goalkeepers coach, played for DR Congo during Zaire days

That's how erratic our approach in SA had been all these years. The entire football fraternity – from the PSL, clubs, fans to media – did not pay much attention to the two-week final tournament ably hosted by Rwanda. Even the announcement that SA officials, referee Daniel Bennett and assistant Stevens Khumalo, would handle the final match on Sunday February 7 failed to spark any excitement in SA. That the whole spectacle was shown live on SuperSport's DStv did not help either. This begs the question: how do we hope to be champions in Africa when we don't know what's going on in Africa?

For the record, Meshack Elia scored the first two goals as DR Congo beat Mali 3-0 to be crowned two-time CHAN champions. So, who boasts a better league: DRC, Mali or SA?

Meanwhile, CAF Champions League starts this week. On Saturday Mamelodi Sundowns travel to Bulawayo to meet Chicken Inn FC while Kaizer Chiefs will be out to the Comoros to play Volcan Club Moroni on Sunday.

Sundowns have expressed their desire to be African champions, despite coming short in all previous campaigns. They play good football at the moment, topping the proceedings in the PSL, and they look the part for international football. But looks can be deceiving as SA's worst enemy is poor preparation. Our teams, Sundowns included, have in the past lost to smaller teams which play semi-professional football blighted by lack of resources. 

Zimbabwe champions Chicken Inn are at the moment in the offseason, but they had a good practice in an international friendly tournament in Ndola, Zambia, last week.

Their coach Joey Antipas fired the first shots into the air this week, expressing concern about Sundowns free-scoring form. This is the usual mind games which SA players battle with. Though this time the Sundowns squad boasts internationals, it is a mystery how much work the players have put in, in terms of acquiring valuable information about the “Gamecocks”, including their venue – Luveve Stadium?

As for Chiefs, the club boasting the biggest following in SA has always been known for its disdain for African competition. This does not make sense at all; how do Chiefs expect to have a shot at the Fifa Club World Cup when they do not have the desire to win the CAF Champions League?

Their task against Moroni part-timers is easier than what Sundowns are up against. But with their fans not even knowing about the team's pending trip to the Indian Ocean islands – where is Comoros, one of the supporters asked me yesterday – I don't expect immediate change of attitude from this club. The management has conspired to make supporters to only care for domestic competition. Mention CAF to a Chiefs fan and get a sneer in return.