Unrest over wrestlers' bonuses in DR Congo after the African Championships

The wait is dragging on for DR Congo's wrestling Leopards, who competed at the latest African Championships in Casablanca.

Despite setting a new record of 17 medals, including 5 golds, the Congolese athletes have still not received their bonuses from the government. And even after they were received by Sports Minister Didier Budimbu, nothing has been done.

Read also: African Wrestling Championships: new record for DR Congo

The situation is hitting the athletes' morale, Eric Kinzambi, president of the Congolese Federation of Associated Wrestling, told Sport News Africa. "More than a month after our return from Casablanca, the athletes still haven't received their bonuses. The file is reportedly still with the Ministry of Finance, even though the juniors are preparing for the World Championships in Greece at the end of June, and the seniors in September. We were told the country's authorities wanted to receive them, but apart from what the Sports Minister did, nothing else has been done. It is hitting the athletes' morale", he said.

Risk of mass exodus of athletes

The often shoddy treatment of the wrestling Leopards, and of those in sports other than football, is causing some athletes to leave for other countries.

Wrestling knows something about this, having already suffered several times, with athletes who have notably taken Angolan nationality. "The athletes are really demotivated; they fought hard but got nothing in return. Their Angolan counterparts, the two gold medallists, were given plots of land, you see the difference? This is notably what causes athletes to leave", Eric Kinzambi lamented.

Despite this lack of financial resources, the Congolese athletes are continuing to prepare for the junior World Championships scheduled in Greece.