Boxing students warm up together as the sun rises over the volcanic hills around Goma. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Kibomango (1977) is a former child soldier. He fought in the AFDL and RCD-Goma rebel groups before an eye injury ended his combat career. Kibomango subsequently turned to boxing, and became the national champion. He has eight sons and daughters from two different women and works as a security guard and as a freelance mechanic. He trains every day from 7 to 8am with his students in the club de l’Amitie. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Kibomango during a sparring of Sunday morning. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Kibomango’s core group of students at club de l’Amitie. Back row, left to right: Claude (20), Fabrice (18), Kibomango (35), Fabrice Jeff (17), Fabrice (18). Front row, left to right: Eritie, Fikir, Amadi (15). Goma, North Kivu, DRC.
Picture of Kibomango and his challenger Saidi Kanyalire (former Champion of Africa) the 4th of June 2009. Saidi died at the end of the match. Goma, North Kivu, DRC.
Four of Kibomango’s young children – Jennifer (6), Arnold (8), Jenny (2) and Jessica (4), from left to right – watch television at home. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Fabrice and Claude, two boxing students, help each other to put on their gloves while Kibomango spars with another student in the background. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Boxing students, aged between 13 and 20, gather around Kibomango at the end of a training session at the club de l’Amitie. At the end of each session Kibomango teaches his students about boxing values, such as discipline; they all listen with respect and treat him as a father figure. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Kibomango buy sugar cane as breakfast for his boxing students after the morning training. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Freelance mechanics work on a car in the street at Kibabi in Goma. Kibomango is forced to work as a mechanic and a security guard because, despite being the champion of the DRC, boxing earns him no income. The mechanics cannot afford to rent a garage so are forced to work out in the street, whatever the weather. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
Kibomango playing with his children while sat in his broken-down car in front of his home. Goma, North Kivu, DRC
The panorama of Goma from the stadium (Stade les Volcans) which hosts the gym club de l’Amitie training sessions every morning. Goma, North Kivu, DRC