Fatshi U20 cup: DR Congo’s Gabriel Zakwani upbeat ahead of opener

DR Congo play the inaugural game of the Fatshi U20 cup tourney against Gabon on Saturday, as the hosts look to leave a mark in the ground breaking, new-found CEMAC zone – youth competition.

Coach Gabriel Zakwani and his lads gear up to make amends after poor performances in last year’s UNIFFAC, and there’s no other stage to restart, than the Fatshi U20 cup.

“We are going into the tournament with joy and will. We had a great preparation and we hope that the players will put everything they learned in practice.

“Our U20s in DR Congo haven’t really been up to standard; like our senior team (editor’s note). It is time for us to show the world that there is talent here.

“We have as an objective to win but we cannot put the kids under much pressure”, the 38 year old ended.

The DR Congo ended bottom of the group at the UNIFFAC tourney last year, and testament to Zakwani’s cry for consistency, is the Small Leopards meager 2 participations at the AFCON finals (2 since 1979).

DR Congo opens their campaign before an enthusiastic Stade Martyrs on Saturday against DR Congo.