The Democratic Republic of Congo’s statue superfan will be replaced by a Gen Z version for the World Cup clash with England.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, nicknamed ‘Lumumba’, has been adopting his motionless pose at games since 2013 and became a social media sensation for his unusual behaviour and striking attire at AFCON earlier this year.
But visa issues from an Ebola outbreak back home mean he is stranded in Mexico, preventing him from travelling to Atlanta to watch his beloved side take on the Three Lions in the biggest game in their history.
Instead, Enock Kabwende, known as ‘Lumumba Jr’, who has been training to stand completely still for 90 minutes, will have his big moment.
Mboladinga is known for wearing a bright red jacket and tie, a yellow shirt and blue trousers with the colours coming from the DR Congo flag
He clambers up onto a pedestal prior to matches and raises his right arm aloft. His pose is aimed at copying the statue of Patrice Lumumba back in Kinshasa, DR Congo’s capital.
Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, pictured striking his statue pose at DR Congo’s game against Colombia in Mexico, is not able to attend the clash with England
Enock Kabwende (pictured) will be taking the place of Mbolandinga in Atlanta
He previously said: ‘Believe it or not, I do practice. I can actually practice 20 days out of a month, but I’ll also take a lot of rest. I am a living statue.’
He was given a 4×4 as a present from the government after his exploits at AFCON.
Lumumba was an activist who helped to end Belgium’s colonial rule over Congo in 1960. He became the newly independent country´s first prime minister and was seen as one of Africa’s most promising leaders, but he was assassinated within a year during a struggle against a Belgian-backed secessionist movement in the mineral-rich Katanga region.
Now Kabwende will take up the mantle and said: ‘I want to keep the culture going. [Mboladinga] didn’t come here, but we have to represent our country. Patrice Lumumba represents liberty, strong power, prosperity and freedom in our country.
DR Congo’s ambassador to the US said: ‘If Lumumba Vea cannot travel, then Lumumba Junior will carry the torch in Atlanta. Michel is the real one but junior is smaller and a bit younger; he’s the Generation Z fan.’
According to the ambassador, Mboladinga’s visa problems are due to a delay in processing rather than him being banned from the US.
She went on to give a bullish warning to England, adding: ‘We are beating England. When Congo win, it is going to send a message to the world that DRC is coming of age.
‘The World Cup is strengthening our determination to show to the world the DRC is not just a crisis, not just a disease but a country of people who are extremely resilient.’
The winner of England’s clash with DR Congo will face a testing last-16 game against Mexico in Mexico City.
