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In the Republic of Congo, Kickboxer Hopes to Inspire Young People for a Better Future
March 7, 2024
CategoryAfrica Central
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/Script((INTRO))
[[In the Republic of Congo, a young man from an impoverished neighborhood of Fond Tie-Tie in the coastal city of Pointe Noire has embraced kickboxing as his passion. He says his biggest dream is to one day become a boxing champion representing his underprivileged community. VOA’s Brice Kinhou has this story.]]
((NARRATOR))
This is Fond Tie-tie, one of the poorest neighborhoods of Pointe-Noire, the economic capital of the Republic of Congo.
Jordan Nkounkou trains here every day. Growing up, the 25-year-old witnessed many of his friends pulled into violence and drugs, and some lost their lives. Despite his challenging upbringing, Nkounkou never abandoned his passion. Nkounkou says he hopes to become a world kickboxing champion and show young people from his community that anything is possible.
[[Radio track: He says his dream is to be an international kickboxer, but there's no kickboxing competition at the moment. he always trains so he can become an international athlete and earn a living through the sport.]]
((Jordan Nkounkou, Kickboxer)) ((Male, in French))
“My dream is to be an international kickboxer. I’m in the Red Devil team, but there are no kickboxing competitions now. I always train so that I can gain notoriety, become an international athlete, and make a living through the sport.”
((NARRATOR))
The eldest of a family of five children, Nkounkou lives with his single mother. To support his family, he worked as a security guard for a while, earning about $150 per month, however, he said he was recently laid off. Nkounkou now spends most of his morning at the local market, where he makes a living unloading goods for $2 or $3 a day. Nkounkou says he then heads to the Tiger Club’s gym, an open-air area fenced off with sheet metal to train.
[[Radio track: He says he
[[Radio track: He says he trains every day even though people criticize him and often say that sports can’t feed you here in Congo and he should forget it. He says he doesn’t pay attention to the naysayers because he has a dream and an objective to achieve.]]
((Jordan Nkounkou, Kickboxer)) ((Male, in French))
“Despite people’s criticism and comments suggesting that this sport can’t feed anyone in the Congo and that I should forget it, I don’t pay attention to them, because I have a dream and an objective to achieve. I train every day.”
((NARRATOR))
Fond Tie-Tie, where the future of young people is often derailed by violence, Nkounkou also motivates young people to embrace kickboxing. This 14-year-old says she has discovered a new passion thanks to Nkounkou.
[[Radio track: Amour Ngouakele explains she often saw Nkounkou doing sports in the neighborhood, and she was really interested. She says she now trains at the Tiger Club where he trains, and she has been going there to train ever since.]]
((Amour Ngouakele, Kickboxing Trainee)) ((Female, in French))
“I often saw him (Nkounkou) doing sports in the neighborhood and I was really interested. I got close to him one day and told him to show me how. He took me to the Tiger Club where he trains, and I’ve been coming here to train ever since.”
((NARRATOR))
Nick Nvoungou Mananga is Nkounkou’s coach and trains at the Tiger Club. He says witnessing Nkounkou who took part in kickboxing fights at a local level and won 9 out of 11 fights, is a source of pride. Mananga believes Nkounkou has the qualities and the will to turn his dream into reality, provided he is given the opportunity.
[[Radio track: Mananga says Anyone who recruits Nkounkou won’t be disappointed because he has good qualities. In terms of cardio, physical and mental strength, he’s got it all.]]
((Nick Nvoungou Mananga, Tiger Club Coach)) ((Male, in French))
“Anyone who recruits him (Nkounkou) won’t be disappointed because he has good qualities. In terms of cardio, physical and mental strength, he’s got it all.”
((NARRATOR))
Kickboxing is far from being the most popular sport in Congo, Brazzaville. The discipline lacks support, and there are rarely any competitions for the athletes to showcase their talent. But despite these challenges, Nkounkou hopes that a scouting agent would recognize his potential and provide him with an opportunity to shine as he continues to help other young people dream of a better future.
((Brice Kinhou, VOA News, Pointe-Noire, the Republic of the Congo.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
