The Ligue 1 is trucking along in the Play-offs phase of the national championship. On the 9th day, Thursday, May 22, As Maniema faced off against AS Simba from Kolwezi. The match ended in a draw (0-0), leaving the unionists feeling a bit disappointed. The coach of Kindu, Papy Kimoto, expressed his frustration during the press conference after the match, pointing out that his players were exhausted in the second half and couldn’t capitalize on their opportunities.
Frustrated, Kimoto mentioned, “We are very frustrating. There was room to win. I felt my players a bit tired in the second half. It was time for them to recover a bit. We will have a big week to regenerate them a bit because they have played a lot. We could only blame ourselves.” He also acknowledged that his team had chances but highlighted the unpredictable nature of football. Despite not getting the win, he was pleased with the draw and commended his players for their dedication.
The unionists are desperate to be among the top three in this phase to secure a spot in the CAF African Champions League. Their motivation to qualify for this African competition once again is stronger than ever. Currently, Maniema Union is leading in this Play-offs phase, with two more games than their closest rival, FC les Aigles du Congo (2nd with 18 points). The race to the finish line promises to be intense, with both teams vying for that coveted spot in the Champions League.
