Hosting Saint-Éloi Lupopo in Solwezi marked a significant moment for Kansanshi Dynamos, as the club welcomed one of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s established sides for what was a first-of-its-kind international friendly experience in its history.
The match, played at Solwezi Independence Stadium on Tuesday, ended in a 2-1 victory for the visitors after they came from behind to overturn Kansanshi’s first-half lead.
Beyond the result, however, the occasion provided Kansanshi Dynamos with an opportunity to test themselves against experienced international opposition and gain lessons both on and off the pitch as the club continues to grow.
Speaking after the match, Kansanshi Dynamos FC General Secretary Mweshi Mupeta said the opportunity to host a club of Lupopo’s stature was an important one for the club.
“This is the first of its kind in the history of the club. As you know, Lupopo is one of the biggest teams in Congo and they have even participated in CAF competitions. Their visit has given us a lot of valuable lessons.”
Lupopo are among the established clubs in the Democratic Republic of Congo and their experience at continental level made the friendly an important opportunity for Kansanshi to measure themselves against a side with international exposure.
For Mupeta, the occasion represented more than just the 90 minutes on the pitch, with the visit providing the club with an opportunity to learn from the experience of hosting international opposition and gain exposure to a different level of football.
The General Secretary said such opportunities also reflect the progress Kansanshi Dynamos continues to make as a club and expressed hope that the team can continue creating similar experiences in the future.
He said the club hopes to eventually return the visit and travel to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where Kansanshi Dynamos could gain further exposure and experience against opposition outside Zambia.
“It shows how much we are growing as a club, and we pray that one day we can reach those levels. We hope that in the near future we can also pay back the same visit and go there to learn even more.”
Mupeta added that the club hopes the Lupopo friendly will be the beginning of more opportunities of a similar nature, allowing both the team and the club to continue learning and developing.
“It was a good experience, and we hope to have more experiences like this so that we can continue learning valuable lessons as a club and as a team.”
As Kansanshi Dynamos continue their preparations and development ahead of the new season, the Lupopo friendly provided another important step in the club’s journey, offering valuable exposure and lessons that can be taken forward both on and off the pitch.
