Yorkshire’s Congolese community prepare for England clash

Jacques Kalenga moved to England from DR Congo in 1999, and now works for the charity Tosalisana Congolese Community of Sheffield.

“It is an honour for us to play England and the team have to expect something so we never know, [but] England is a big team, so we hope to surprise them,” he said.

Kalenga said he was surprised to see his nation compete at a World Cup after a 52-year hiatus and said the country’s football programme was increasingly successful, but admitted seeing DR Congo face England left him with divided loyalties.

“I support both England and the DRC, but I hope for a good match and that the stronger team wins. I will be pleased with either winning,” he said.

Kalenga has been watching Congo’s group stage games in a pub in the Gleadless area of Sheffield, where he sits on the board of the City Life International Church.

Newcastle United forward Yoane Wissa is his favourite player from the current World Cup team – 20 of whom were born outside DR Congo, including Wissa and former Manchester United defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka, who were born in France and England respectively.

Kalenga hoped Wednesday’s match will boost both the Congolese identity and relations in England.

He was born in DR Congo’s second-largest city, Lubumbashi, near its border with Zambia before moving to England after his wife found a job as a nurse.

Since living in England, Kalenga has completed a Masters degree in computing from Sheffield Hallam University.

“I’ve done my best to be involved in the community nationwide, with the Congolese diaspora in the UK, but I’m retired now so I’m old,” Kalenga joked.