NATIONAL TEAM - CONGO DR - KIDIABA TO END INTERNATIONAL CAREER AFTER 2015 NATIONS CUP

Democratic Republic of Congo goalkeeper Robert Kidiaba has revealed he will retire from international duty after the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

7 Dec 2014
NATIONAL TEAM - GHANA - COACHES - GRANT MAY RECALL BANNED DUO BOATENG AND MUNTARI

Both are suspended indefinitely for gross misconduct while on duty with Ghana at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

5 Dec 2014
2014 AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - BBC PLAYER OF THE YEAR REVEALED

Brahimi wins BBC African Footballer of the Year award 2014 - The 24-year-old midfielder becomes the first Algerian to win the award, which is decided by football fans.

4 Dec 2014
2014 AFRICAN FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - CAF CUTS AWARDS LISTS TO FIVE

Last month CAF announced an initial list of 25 names for its main 2014 African Player of the Year award.

3 Dec 2014
2015 AFRICA CUP - CAF REVEALS SEEDING FOR DRAW

Former winners Zambia and hosts Equatorial Guinea will be among the top seeds in Wednesday's draw for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

2 Dec 2014
AFRICAN FUTURE FOOTBALL STARS - RISING STARS

In four days' time the shortlist for the BBC African Footballer of the year 2014 will be revealed. While those five names will be established superstars from the continent, there are also a number of excellent young players coming through the ranks - emerging talent who themselves may soon compete for the title.

1 Dec 2014
AFRICAN CONFEDERATION CUP 2014 - FINALS - 1ST LEG - RESULT

Sewe take a slender lead over Ahly in final

29 Nov 2014

stars in Africa - Kidiaba to focus on DR Congo unity

The man famed for the 'bum shuffle' goal celebration - sitting down and bouncing around his area - has been named as an ambassador for Peace One Day. The non-profit organisation was founded by Jeremy Gilley, an English actor and film-maker. The 38-year-old Kidiaba believes there will be no development in Congo without peace. For decades, the DR Congo has been plagued by conflict and a deadly scramble for its vast natural resources.

"I know that it's not easy to engage people in the peace process in Congo; the country has suffered from years of war," said Kidiaba, who is also the goalkeeper for former African champions, TP Mazembe. He added: "The years of conflict have created huge delays in the development of our country. "Peace will allow us to move on, to turn the page and reconstruct our country.

"Being a peace ambassador is a daily struggle but we must support peace over hostility, especially among the young people." In his efforts to promote peace through football, Kidiaba can at least count on the support of TP Mazembe owner Moise Katumbi. The governor of Africa's richest mineral province, Katanga - a region that often has to deal with calls for secession from the rest of the country.

Katumbi told BBC Sport that he is proud to have one of his players as a peace ambassador. "It's something good that Kidiaba has been recognised; he's really a man of peace, even within TP Mazembe. "I always wonder why Africa has a lot of rebellions and poverty, and yet it is the most blessed continent in the world. "We need to come together and tackle our challenges," said Katumbi.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

11 Apr 2014
(BBC World Service, Lusaka, Zambia by Kennedy Gondwe)

Related countries

Related articles