Special Feature: Yema Mwama, The Bandari FC Gift That Keeps On Shining

18th June 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

Congolese national has risen to be a hit and model example at the SPL heavyweights who are eyeing the title next season

Congolese striker Yema Mwama being honoured by Bernard Osero, Bandari FC Vice Chairman and Head of Corporate Affairs after being emerging as the club top scorer and top striker in SportPesa Shield and SportPesa Premier League Kipevu Container Terminal in Mombasa on June 17, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

His efforts saw him secure a starting slot in his primary and secondary school teams before scouts who flew him to the neighbouring Central African Republic in 2014 for trials with FC Tornado spotted him
Mwama emerged the club’s top scorer with 12 goals in the league and another five in their successful 2018/19 SportPesa Shield Cup campaign where the Dockers added only their second trophy to their cabinet
His boss, Mwalala, hailed the Congolese striker as an example that should be copied by local footballers, citing his immense influence on and off the pitch alongside compatriot and captain; Felly Lumumba as well as attacking midfielder William Wadri from Uganda

NAIROBI, Kenya- When Yema Mwama started playing football in 2005 in Bandalungwa Municipality in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), his mother scolded him urging him to embrace education ahead of sport.

Nonetheless, his strong passion for the beautiful game kept him going. The desire for greatness in football overrode all his mother’s misgivings and to maintain the peace at home, he devised a way to fuel his desire while keeping his dear parent happy.

Mwama would sneak after school to play football with his friends in Bandal (as Bandalungwa is popularly known) in some of the most dilapidated pitches at the country that has produced more than her fair share of international stars.

His efforts saw him secure a starting slot in his primary and secondary school teams before scouts who flew him to the neighbouring Central African Republic in 2014 for trials with FC Tornado spotted him.

“I passed the trials but did not sign-up with the club. We failed to agree on money,” the Bandari FC striker told SportPesa News as he celebrated being honoured as their top scorer for the 2018/19 season in Mombasa.

Soon, Mwama was on the plane again headed to Israel to try his luck with Maccabi Natanya in the capital Tel Aviv but as cruel luck would have it, he fell sick before the two-month trial period ended and he was forced to return to the DRC to recover.

The then budding forward who was still-hunting for his breakthrough, did not bother to go back after getting well.

Instead, he resorted to seek another probationary contract with DRC giants Daring Club Motema Pembe FC and finally, he hit the jackpot.

The local champions took little time in sighting his potential and snapped his signature for what was his first professional contract.

After playing with the 12-time league and 13-time domestic cup champions for four years, Mwama, like many players within the East African region, decided to try his fortunes in Kenya where the growth of the SportPesa Premier League (SPL) had become a huge draw for foreign talent.

He did not land a top-flight team on arrival, the striker signing with Nairobi Stima FC of the second division National Super League.

He put pen to paper for Stima in 2017 and made an immediate impact, plundering in 13 goals in the six months he spent at the capital city based power men.

SPL side Sony Sugar FC came calling for his services and offered him a route to the division he wanted his prowess to shine after the sugar millers offered him better terms having been alerted to his prowess in front of goal at Stima.

Mwama stayed at Sony for the same period and nine goals later, Bandari- a team with huge ambitions of leaving a huge mark in Kenyan football- came calling for the Congolese national.

“Bandari gave me a good offer, so I joined them in January 2018. I was glad to make a mark in the period as I found the back of the net seven times,” Mwama recounted the introduction to his life at the Dockers.

His second year with the Mombasa-based team saw the 24 year-old father of one reach new heights where he has now established himself not only a Bandari star but a notable name in the SPL.

Mwama emerged the club’s top scorer with 12 goals in the league and another five in their successful 2018/19 SportPesa Shield Cup campaign where the Dockers added only their second trophy to their cabinet.

His immense contribution saw the club repeat their finish from the previous campaign of runners-up to SPL champions Gor Mahia FC (72 points against 64) with their domestic cup victory earning Bandari a ticket to play the CAF Confederations Cup next season.

Mwama was also the top scorer in the Shield as Bandari dethroned Kariobangi Sharks FC from the title with a 3-1 victory achieved over two days (June 1 and 2) in Nairobi.

“I’m proud that none of the 17 goals I scored came from a penalty. That is what set me apart from other top scorers in the country,” he stressed.

The Shield victory will see Bandari represent Kenya in the Confed Cup for the second time, their first being 2016 where they were eliminated 3-1 by FC St Eloi Lupopo from his native DRC in the preliminary round.

Mwama is determined to fire Bandari to the lucrative group stages and beyond besides playing his part in ending the dynasty of three-peat SPL winners and record 18-time league champions Gor.

On Monday, the management of Kenya Ports Authority, Bandari’s title partners recognised his contribution by rewarding him for being their most lethal marksman, a gesture that brought him to tears considering how his football journey has evolved.

"I have no words to express my joy, I feel motivated to work hard next season. Bandari will forever be in my heart,” he confessed, with a deep sense of touching emotion that illustrates why his head coach, Bernard Mwalala identifies him as a pillar for his team and a model for the local lads.

The Shield run stood out for the Congolese national since it gave the striker a chance to see first hand the depth and disparities of football talent in his adopted nation.

“We had good experience while travelling to play unknown sides like Kayo FC from Wajir in the knock-out tournament.

Congolese striker Yema Mwama makes a gesture during a tour of SportPesa Shield trophy in Mombasa City on June 17, 2019. PHOTO/SPN

“Upcoming players got opportunity to market themselves while experienced ones were exposed to different challenges in the sport,” the lethal marksman observed.

The allure of emerging the top scorer at the 2019/20 Confed Cup is already firing up his belly to make a name at the continental stage.

“I have done my research and has realised that top CAF scorers net between four to seven goals, so I’m targeting to get between four and eight. I want to be among the top five scorers in Africa,” he emphasised.

Mwama advised his team to sign competitive players in the current transfer window to fortify the team ahead of a campaign where they will be challenging for local, regional and continental honours.

Bandari have been earmarked as one of the team who will join Gor from Kenya to play in the forthcoming Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup (Kagame Cup) this year after the withdrawal of Tanzania giants, Yanga SC.

He admits Gor and Yanga SC have approached him with a view of signing him but he is not willing to force a move from the club he has grown to love and be loved, leaving the final call on his destiny to Bandari.

“I have a contract with the club that ends in December, I don’t want to rush things. I have already informed the management to preside over the inquiries made by the two and what they have arrived at is what I will follow,” he stressed.

Mwama believes good training and inspiration from head coach Mwalala made him develop his talent at the Dockers.

“I realised the coach changed from being a defender to a striker in his playing days and our Team Manager, Wilson Obungu swapped striking for goal keeping, so everything is possible in whatever role a player has set their sight on,” he told.

He credited his teammates for his purple patch in front of goal besides the fact that Bandari management does not delay paying their players their dues on time.

“Our training regime is so friendly, we do a lot of ball work which I personally like. I hate loading. Unlike other clubs with salary arrears, Bandari pay us on time so we are always focused when headed for battle,” the striker expounded.

He has set himself another goal of establishing himself in Europe in the next five years, citing retired Cameroon and FC Barcelona goal machine, Samuel Eto’o as his idol.

“Eto’o is my role model, I loved the way he used to position himself for the ball. He had amazing runs and knew how to exhaust defenders. My game really improved the moment I resolved to copy his play,” he confessed.

Mwama backed teammate and goalkeeper, Farouk Shikalo and Harambee Stars to make Kenya proud at the Egypt 2019 CAF Africa Cup of Nations that kicks off on Friday having seen them hold his DRC to a 1-1 draw last weekend.

“My prediction is that Stars will not go past semi-finals, they will be overpowered by teams with more money and pay their players so well,” he added.

His boss, Mwalala, hailed the Congolese striker as an example that should be copied by local footballers, citing his immense influence on and off the pitch alongside compatriot and captain; Felly Lumumba as well as attacking midfielder William Wadri from Uganda.

“These foreign boys know what they came here for and I have no problem with them since they are leaders when playing and when training. Our footballers should learn from them since they come here, make a name and earn good moves abroad,” the former Kenya international who was a sensation in Tanzania opined.