Analysis: Why Mazembe’s Mwaungulu is earning Rainford Kalaba comparison

Photo Credit: TP Mazembe.

Two years after playmaker Rainford Kalaba retired, pulling the curtain down on a trophy-laden 13-year career with TP Mazembe, no other player has earned comparisons with the tiny-legged maestro.

It is tough being expected to match the feat of the Zambian who was so good he played in Portugal, won two CAF Champions League titles with the Ravens, then capped it all for his country by lifting the 202 Africa Cup of Nations title.

However, if the ‘Kwasakwasa’ chorus coming from Lubumbashi is anything to go by, that might be changing. This time, not another import from Zambia, but neighbouring Malawi.

Goals in three consecutive Linafoot games, one for CS Don Bosco while on loan before TP Mazembe’s ban was lifted, and in back-to-back matches for the black and white have Lubumbashi faithful hoping Patrick Mwaungulu is Kalaba’s reincarnation.

After Mwaungulu planted a free-kick to the top right corner to hand Lamine Ndiaye’s side a 1-0 win over AS Maniema Union with three minutes remaining on the clock on Sunday, TP Mazembe fans could not hold back from comparing the small Mwaungulu with Kalaba.

It was not just a goal, but it had expertise written all over it as it swerved beyond and over Maniema’s human wall before nestling at the far corner at Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa.

The technique was Declan Rice-like, but the Malawian’s youth exuberance and small stature had everything Kalaba about it. Not since the days of the maestro had the sea of white seen such magic from a smallest man on the pitch.

Little wonder a fan, Gus Gk Kanyinda, took to TP Mazembe's Facebook page to declare that the Flames winger is a genius. In him,[there is] Rainford Maestro Kalaba, combined with Bongeli, Oscar Kabwit, without forgetting Badamass.”

Another fan did not want to throw caution to the wind. He toned down, saying: “Is he the next Rainford Kalaba? We'll see.”

Mazembe media team published a match report of the Linafoot play-off under a big headline reading: Patrick Mwaungulu, hero of Kinshasa. The 22-year-old befittingly walked off the pitch with a man-of-the-match accolade on Sunday, an award the Mzuzu-born winger celebrated.

“Happy to have been featured on the scoreboard in style, scoring a decisive goal in the dying minutes, and recognized as man of the match,” he wrote on his Facebook page.

The Malawian’s back-to-back goals for TP Mazembe helped the Ravens to bounce back from last week’s 2-1 loss to JSK, handing AS Maniema Union their first defeat in four matches of the playoffs.

Following Sunday’s result, Lamine Ndiaye’s lie in fourth place with nine points, at par with AS Maniema, after round four of the playoffs.

The ex-FCB Nyasa Big Bullets star has been in fine form, scoring when he was on loan at CS Don Bosco two weeks ago in the 2-1 loss to the Lubumbashi giants before registering his name on the scoresheet last week when TP Mazembe recalled him.

With his loan spell over, Ndiaye recalled the Malawian to the Moise Katumbi-owned team alongside compatriot Lanjesi Nkhoma.

Mwaungulu was a revelation at FCB Nyasa Big Bullets with tricks, flicks, scoring and creating assists in a rewarding three-year career that earned him two TNM Super League titles before the DRC giants came with an open cheque book.

If the Flames’ star showing is anything to go by, TP Mazembe faithful should get ready for more fun.