Certain defenders in football make you feel as if nothing could ever go wrong at the back. They are unflappable figures, such as Kalidou Koulibaly or Virgil van Dijk, whose sense of calm ripples through the ranks.
Rocky Bushiri most certainly fits that mould. At 25 years old, the colossal defender is as assured in interviews as he is on the pitch, whether he is representing Congo DR or the Scottish outfit Hibernian. He is showing no signs of stress a few days ahead of his side’s must-win tie against Cameroon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for the FIFA World Cup 26™, in which a single spot at the FIFA Play-Off Tournament is up for grabs.
“These moments are fleeting, so we have to savour them,” Bushiri said, eager to taste the thrill of the fight. “It would be crazy to let stress rob you of something so amazing.”
The Congolese could be forgiven for feeling the pressure, especially having fallen so agonisingly short of automatic qualification. The Leopards were sitting atop Group B when they faced Senegal at a packed Stade des Martyrs with three matches remaining. Despite storming into a 2-0 lead, they eventually fell to a 3-2 defeat, which handed the Lions of Teranga the initiative in their bid to book their ticket to North America on the final two matchdays.
However, the Congo DR-born centre-half – who was raised in Belgium, the country he represented at youth level alongside the likes of Jeremy Doku – told FIFA that his side’s defensive solidity should provide the Leopards with the perfect platform as they look to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Rocky Bushiri: I think we’ve had a great campaign, with seven wins, two losses and a draw. The defeat against Senegal was particularly hard to take because we came so close, but we know the way things go in football. Senegal are a sensational side, too; I think they’ve gone the last two years unbeaten. We bounced back after that setback, with two wins and as many clean sheets in the most recent international window. I think that’s our team’s biggest strength: the group is well-structured and there’s a real sense of togetherness.
Everyone puts a shift in defensively. We defend from the front. There haven’t been many changes in terms of personnel at the back for the past two years. As a result, you build relationships, get to know the partner you’ll be playing alongside and learn how to complement one another. We’re also blessed with some great individual players. We have [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka and Chancel Mbemba, who is our rock – the anchor, the boss and the captain, who excels at marshalling his backline. There’s also [Axel] Tuanzebe, an established Premier League player now with Burnley, who brings a cool head to the defence, in addition to Dylan [Batubinsika] and Steve [Kapuadi]. It’s a good group of young guys who all help each other out, backed up by some excellent goalkeepers, of course.
I think I read the game well and can deal with tricky situations thanks to my pace, my power and, above all, my aerial ability – an attribute that’s particularly pivotal in African football. Tactically, some African teams try to take a direct approach, so they resort to an aerial game, and I believe that’s where I come into my own.
When you join up with the national team, you’re representing your country. It’s like a family, and you’re still part of the group, even if you’re sitting on the bench or in the stands. When you’re chosen from a population of 100-odd million in Congo DR, there must be a good reason for it. Above all, it’s an honour to be there. Everyone obviously wants to play and show what they can bring to the table, but the main thing is to be ready every time we come together. I actually think it’s more stressful to sit on the bench than to be in the thick of the action! But it’s a good kind of stress. I don’t really let the pressure get to me because these moments are fleeting, so we have to savour them. It would be crazy to let stress rob you of something so amazing, so I make the most of every second.
It’s hard to say what the key will be. We’re up against a strong Cameroon side with some top players, but the match is taking place on neutral territory so nobody will have the home advantage. Personally, I know Fabrice Ondoa, the back-up goalkeeper. I also have some Cameroonian friends, but they aren’t in the national team. I’ve shared a bit of banter with a close friend who came through as a professional with me, Logan Ndenbe. He’d like Cameroon to qualify, while I want to be part of the Congo DR squad that reaches the World Cup.
Congo DR means everything to me. Both my parents are Congolese, and I grew up speaking both French and Lingala at home. My parents also speak Swahili, especially when they don’t want anyone to be able to understand what they’re saying [he laughs]. I have Belgian cultural influences too, but I see myself as Congolese. For example, when I’m at home, I’m always listening to music that reflects those Congolese roots – that’s my culture.
Congolese culture is all about appreciating good food at the weekend whenever you can. It’s about enjoying big meals as a family. Your aunts and uncles share the parental responsibility of raising you. I haven’t really brought that side of things with me to Scotland, but when I return home for national-team duty, I know the chef is going to serve up our favourite dishes, like chicken in mayonnaise with plantains! It doesn’t get better than that [he laughs].
I’d like to think so. We’re going to give it our all and we believe we can do it. We’re counting on our fans to get behind us, as they always do. We hope they’ll all be there in Morocco. They bring the kind of good energy we all want and need.
