Like most of sub-Saharan Africa, Congo-Brazzaville has recently been hit by intense heat. And it's in this sweltering heat that Ligue 1 soccer is played. Adaptation thus becomes a challenge, but above all a major issue.
" We're ready to take them on," promises Rock Davy Tsoumou Likibi. The left-winger from V Club Mokanda de Pointe-Noire and his team-mates are aiming to move heaven and earth to take three points when they host Étoile du Congo de Brazzaville on April 7, as part of the 18th day of Ligue 1. This would enable the Vert et Noir (8thwith 22 points) to dethrone Étoile du Congo, who are in 7th place with 24 points. Etoile du Congo, for their part, will be hoping for a defeat of Diables noirs de Brazzaville (6th with 25 points) by Nathaly's de Pointe-Noire, as they aim to continue their ascent to the top of Congolese Ligue 1 soccer.
But whatever the stakes, the two rivals, like the twelve other clubs involved in the competition, face a common adversary: the intense heat that has been pounding the country since the end of February.
The weather service reports an average maximum temperature of 33 degrees and a minimum of 27 degrees during this period. And despite "scattered" showers, the mercury could still climb well above 31 degrees." An almost exceptional situation, as the mercury very rarely rises to this level at this time of year. You don't need to be a climatologist or meteorologist to see the impact of climate change," explains a meteorologist on duty in Pointe-Noire.
This exceptional situation is not without consequences, especially for sporting activities, and soccer in particular. " Yes, the heat is really hurting us this year. Playing under this scorching sun is hellish. And it significantly reduces the players' performance," laments Rock Davy Tsoumou Likibi.
Health risks are also mentioned by experts, such as thermal fever and accelerated heart rate due to increased blood flow.
The management teams of the Cono-Brazzaville clubs are well aware of this reality. " We know what the children suffer when they play in such sweltering heat. This affects their performance on the pitch ," admits Cyr Niaty, assistant coach of V Club Mokanda.
" We're trying to adapt to this harsh reality.At home, for example, we've decided to change the times of our training sessions. As you can see, we no longer train in the afternoons. Instead, we arrange to train in the morning, before the sun is at its zenith. But that's not easy either, because these days, the sun rises in the early hours with the same scorching heat," Niaty laments.
These difficulties of adaptation are also experienced by the organizers. "It's all very well staggering matches to the evening. But the incessant power cuts don't make things any easier for us. That's how we manage ," explains a source close to the national soccer league (LINAFOOT).
All the teams in Congo-Brazzaville have little choice but to get by until the end of League 1, scheduled for June 2.
