La Mama Kapinga Maweja's double-double lands her Player of the Week award among Congolese playing currently abroad:

We bring you last week's top performances from Congolese who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

La Mama Kapinga Maweja

   #1. This week's number one is former international power forward La Mama Kapinga Maweja (194-1997, agency: LBM Management, currently plays in WABA). She could not help Pozega (3-10) in their last game. Despite Kapinga Maweja's very good performance the seventh-placed Pozega (3-10) was crushed 96-50 on the road by the higher-ranked (#5) 021 in the group A of WABA. She had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 12 rebounds. Kapinga Maweja also added and 3 steals in 30 minutes on the court. It was Pozega's eighth consecutive loss in a row. Her team will play only one more game in the WABA Second Stage. And that game will be critical. Kapinga Maweja has individually a very good year with high stats. She averages: 21.3ppg, 14.4rpg, 2.2apg, 1.4bpg, 1.4spg, 2FGP: 60.3%(140-232) and FT: 65.0% in 17 games she played so far. Kapinga Maweja played for the DR Congolese senior national team year ago.

Louange Nsimba Luzenga

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Louange Nsimba Luzenga (183-1997, currently plays in WABA) is a teammate of previously mentioned La Mama Kapinga Maweja and both played together in the last WABA game. Luzenga. She was not able to help Pozega (3-10) in their last game on Tuesday. Despite Luzenga's very good performance Pozega (#7) was crushed 96-50 in Novi Sad by the higher-ranked 021 (#5) in the group A of WABA. She was the second best scorer with 19 points. Luzenga also added 7 rebounds. Luzenga has relatively good stats this season: 13.0ppg, 5.0rpg, 2FGP: 52.6% and FT: 75.0%. She played for the DR Congolese national team in 17.

Chanel Mokango

   #3. The DR Congolese player who performed third best last week abroad was an experienced former international power forward Chanel Mokango (188-1988, college: MSU, currently plays in Turkey). Mokango was the major contributor in Elazig's surprising victory against the fifth-ranked Bursa (11-8) 84-74 in the Turkish KBSL in Saturday night's game. She scored 20 points, grabbed 9 rebounds and dished 3 assists; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Mokango's first season in pro basketball. Elazig Il Ozel Idare (2-18) closes the standings in the KBSL. But the situation may improve as they ended a series of fourteen consecutive loses. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This season Mokango has relatively solid stats: 14.5ppg, 8.9rpg, 2.5apg, 2FGP: 42.5%, 3FGP: 34.4% and FT: 76.2%. She played for the DR Congolese national team year ago.

Ginette Mfutila

   #4. Power forward Ginette Mfutila (189-1988, also represented by LBM Management, currently plays in France) contributed to Chartres' victory against the seventh-ranked SIG (11-8) 65-55 in the French LF2 (second division) on Saturday night. Mfutila recorded 9 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Chartres Basket Feminin (12-7) is placed third in the LF2. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be important. Mfutila has reliable stats this season: 12.0ppg, 8.3rpg and 1.4spg. She used to play for the DR Congolese national team back in 19.


The list of other players, who all have DR Congolese passport but never been selected to any of DR Congolese national teams:

   #1. Harriet Nahwezhi-Bende (186-C-1994, currently plays in Belgium) led Namur to an easy victory against the league outsider Pepinster (1-16) crushing them 98-49 in the Belgian Top Division Women on Saturday night. Nahwezhi-Bende had a double-double by scoring 12 points and getting 11 rebounds in 21 minutes. Basket Namur Capitale (13-4) is placed fourth in the Top Division Women. It was her team's sixth consecutive victory in a row. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This year Nahwezhi-Bende's overall stats are: 6.5ppg and 5.3rpg in 16 games she played so far. She has a dual citizenship: DR Congolese and Belgian.

   #2. Bethy Mununga (183-F-1997, currently plays college basketball in the States) led S.Florida to an easy victory against the University of Houston (8-9) crushing them 71-38 in the NCAA last Wednesday. Mununga had a double-double by scoring 16 points and getting 10 rebounds. She also added 3 assists and 3 steals in 28 minutes. The University of South Florida has rather weak 3-15 conference record this season. The Regular Season already ended in the NCAA. Mununga has reliable stats this year: 11.0ppg, 11.3rpg, 1.9apg and 1.4spg in 29 games. She is another player who holds two passports: Belgian and DR Congolese. Despite Mununga's DR Congolese nationality, she previously played for the Belgian U20 national team and is probably not eligible to play for the DR Congolese team.

   #3. Lydie Katshitshi (183-C-1998, currently plays in Italy). Katshitshi could not help Moncalieri to beat Empoli (2-17). She recorded only 4 points in 16 minutes. Her team was edged 61-58 at home by the league outsider (#14) Empoli. This year Katshitshi's overall stats are: 6.1ppg, 4.7rpg and 1.4apg in 18 games.


Other top DR Congolese players, who play abroad:

Aninia Longomo (186-F-1999) plays for Duga in Serbian 1 ZLS
Lorraine Lokoka (184-F-1989) plays for Toulouse in French LF2
Thethe Ntumba-Ivanovic (188-C-1983) plays for Student in Serbian 1 ZLS
Liliane Ikete (190-C-2005) plays for Flamurtari in Albanian Superliga
Divinne Tshala (171-PG-1999) plays for Meyrin in Swiss NLB
Messie Mpandzou (160-PG-2006) plays for Fribourg II in Swiss NLB