By Michael Madyira
Kaizer Chiefs have their own history with players from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) following the signing of Christian Saile Basomboli.
This history is largely glowing, as previous Congolese players have excelled at Amakhosi.
On Thursday the Soweto giants announced the signing of Basomboli from Zambian side Nchanga Rangers.
The 22-year-old arrived in the Premier Soccer League unheralded and had to go through a trial stint to impress Chiefs coach Arthur Zwane.
Unlike his compatriots, who previously played for Amakhosi, Basomboli has never featured in the DRC national team.
Not long ago he was playing in the Zambian lower tier and his 19 goals helped Nchanga Rangers earn promotion to the top-flight league.
Now all attention is on Basomboli to see if he could become Chiefs’ greatest ever player from the Congo.
Scrolla.Africa looks at how former Chiefs players from the DRC fared at Naturena.
Eshele Botende
The retired goalkeeper arrived at Chiefs in 1994 and left two years later after lifting the then National Soccer League (now PSL).
A temperamental player, Botende was once yellow carded for refusing to return between the sticks during a penalty shootout in the Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates.
Interestingly, one of his national team games was against Bafana Bafana in a 1998 Fifa World Cup qualifier.
Chiefs spruced up his profile as he left for Portuguese side Maritimo amid links with West Ham United.
Emeka Mamale
Mamale was signed by Chiefs from QwaQwa Stars in 2000, having previous experience playing in South Korea and in the Belgian top flight.
Making his profile attractive to Chiefs was that he had also represented the DRC at the 1996 and 2000 Afcon finals.
He did not stay long at Chiefs but helped them to the Bob Save Super Bowl before he went back to Belgium, this time to sign for Lokeren.
Sadly, Mamale died in 2020 after retiring in 2011 following another spell in the PSL with Silver Stars as well as in Angola and Israel.
Kabamba Musasa
Chiefs signed Musasa from DRC outfit Saint Eloi Lupopo in July 2002. He went on to help the Soweto giants to the 2003/04 PSL title.
He also enjoyed success with two Coca-Cola Cups and was with the Leopards at the 2004 Afcon tournament.
Musasa left Chiefs for Turkey to play for Istanbulspor in February 2005 while Amakhosi were on their way to lifting the 2004/05 championship.
Pictured above: Kabamba Musasa
Image source: PSL
