Jean-Paul's International Call-Up

By: Rob Sedgwick
Date: 04/10/2005

TOWN midfielder Jean-Paul ("JPK") Kamudimba Kalala has won a recall to the Democratic Republic Of Congo International squad for their crucial World Cup Qualifier against South Africa at the weekend. The 23-year-old's form for the Mariners has won him his first squad place since 2004.

Congo manager Claude Le Roy watched Kalala put Tottenham out of the Carling Cup in the televised game and then rang the midfielder that evening to tell him he was likely to be recalled. Congo DR need to win by a handsome margin and hope that Ghana lose to the Cape Verde Islands to stand any chance of qualifying for Germany 2006, in which there will be five competing African nations.

Jean-Paul was born in Congo, but left when he was very young and grew up in France, where he began his professional career, before venturing into English football with the Mariners.

Unfortunately for Grimsby Jean-Paul will miss the crucial league game with Wycombe Wanderers on Friday night. Either Ciaran Toner or Terry Barwick is likely to replace the Congolese international in the midfield engine room.

The last player to win an International call-up whilst at Blundell Park was Darren Barnard for Wales in 2003. For a full list of International Mariners over the years Click here.

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