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Lilepo arrival: Chiefs’ chequered history with Congolese players

The arrival of Glody Makabi Lilepo at Kaizer Chiefs will mean he is the fourth Congolese that has been on the club's books through the PSL era years.

Lilepo follows after Emeka Mamale, Kabamba Musasa, and Christian Saile Basomboli.

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Just like Lilepo – who has come in from French third division club Valenciennes – all three before him played in attacking positions, with the common denominator being that they never set the scene alight wearing Amakhosi colours.

The first player from DR Congo to play for Chiefs in the PSL era years was the late Mamale.

Typical of Congolese players, he had a similar hairstyle to Lilepo, full of energy, which had made him a hit during his first spell playing in South Africa at Qwa-Qwa Stars.

Unfortunately, when he arrived at Chiefs during the 1999/2000 season after spells in South Korea and Tunisia, he went on to score just once in 17 appearances.

That single goal came in December 1999 against SuperSport United.

Musasa, Chiefs 

The second man from the land formerly known as Zaire was Musasa.

Same hairstyle as Lilepo and Mamale – he joined from FC Saint Eloi-Lupopo after causing havoc in the 2002 Vodacom Challenge and went on to stay for two-and-a-half years at Naturena, before leaving for Turkish club Istanbulspor.

The left-footed striker scored 10 goals in his first season, including a strike in the Soweto Derby (December 2002) and though he faded in his second season with four goals, he again scored the winner in the derby played just before Christmas the following year.

By the time he left for Turkey halfway through the 2004/05 season, he was now a regular bench-warmer.

The more recent Congolese at Chiefs has been Basomboli, who is due to be sacrificed in making way for his fellow countryman.

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He has shown the desire down the wing but provided little in terms of goals.

The 25-year-old is yet to score this season and has had seven goals in 56 appearances throughout the two years he has been with Amakhosi.

Basomboli is heading for SuperSport United.

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