DRC amputee football tournament offers path to recovery
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In Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo, athletes with amputations competed in the first national amputee football tournament from September 23 to 25.
Players from North Kivu, South Kivu, and Tanganyika participated, seeking both athletic competition and a sense of community after experiencing violence and armed conflict. Many players, like Félix Bisengimana from North Kivu, suffered limb loss due to war injuries, and the tournament provided a space for them to reconnect with life and look toward the future.
Ngongo Lambert, captain of the Tanganyika team, described the tournament as a rebirth, offering him freedom and fulfillment. Organizers hoped the event would challenge perceptions of disability within the DRC, a country where ongoing conflict has left many people with lasting physical impairments. Betty Myangindula Mbenza, president of the Congolese National Paralympic Committee, stated the tournament allowed athletes to demonstrate their abilities and inspire others with disabilities to participate in sports.
The International Committee of the Red Cross supported the event, viewing sport as a tool for inclusion for the many people they assist who are affected by conflict. Though initially planned to include five provinces, only three teams could attend due to limited resources, highlighting the financial and logistical challenges facing athletes with disabilities in the DRC. Organizers now aim to sustain the initiative and demonstrate that amputation does not limit an individual’s potential.
