How faith helped Hearts’ Kabangu defy 16-day Covid coma

Hearts vs. Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup semi-final

Location: Hampden Park, Glasgow Date: Saturday, April 19th, 12:30 BST

When Hearts striker Elton Kabangu discusses the importance of balance and the 50-50 success rate, it seems as though he is discussing Saturday’s Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen, but he is actually talking about his chances of surviving a lung infection during the Covid period.

Three years ago, the Belgian of Congolese descent had a decent life. At the time, he played for Willem II. Mid-20s, a few goals in the Netherlands’ bank, and a gradual improvement of the reputation. Then, bang.

No longer sense of smell. Then, muscle pains. Then, exhaustion follows. Then, a cough of blood followed. Then, intensive care. Through the window, his mother appears to him, but he doesn’t remember her.

He claims that he spent 16 days comaing. My lungs were infected, so yeah, it took 16 days. I just vividly recall being extremely sick when I first arrived at the hospital. I had to make a fightback after going through the most difficult period of my life.

Kabangu, age 27, has played for the club before joining Hearts on loan after his name was well known in the data of his club partner, Jamestown Analytics. He has since gone on to play for the club, Willem II, Union Saint-Gilloise, Willem II, and now has a character test.

In 14 games, eight goals were scored. He claims there is room for improvement. Two are in opposition to Ross County, Dundee, St. Johnstone, Kilmarnock, and Brechin, respectively. A top-six team is not in any way.

He said, “I’m a striker, and I’ve been important, but I want to be more important.”

Although my current focus has been on fewer goals, I’m still confident. Because I am aware of what I can bring and will try to bring it, I don’t worry about my own self-esteem or my work ethic.

The goal is to change the recent run against Aberdeen at Hampden on Saturday (no goals in three and only one in seven). He claims that the game is meant to save our season.

And for Hearts, this season most definitely needs to be saved. A miserable failure, missing out on the top six.

Kabangu only joined in January, but he has long enough to realize that a club of this size isn’t nearly good enough. He claims that he hardly ever left the house for a day or two after Motherwell’s 0-0 draw that sealed their place in the bottom six.

Because we worked very hard and witnessed everyone being focused, it’s difficult to say what went wrong. Simply put, it hurts. Both the fans and I are furious.

“I can’t stay disappointed because we have to demand more and do more,” he said. When you don’t accomplish those goals, it’s painful, in my opinion, because I believe this team and club have a lot more potential.

Faith has always been a part of who he is, which is why Beni Baningime, another player whose life is influenced by his belief in God, is one of his closest friends. that and their common Congolese heritage.

The spiritual side of his life has expanded since his last few weeks in a coma.

It’s more, I must say, now. You are likely to comprehend a lot of things when you are still in a coma. There is only Jesus Christ, in my opinion, in heaven.

He is my saviour, so I try to spend the majority of my time with him, studying his words, and studying them. It means more to me than it does. It’s a matter of existence.

I pray in the morning. Then, I have my Bible and read when I arrive at the club. I return home after training. I worship after I have my Bible.

I pray in the evening. That’s what I try to accomplish. I meditate and study the Word of God. I met my Congolese brother Beni and my Christian brother when I arrived. Our lives are essentially the same. We make the most of our time with Jesus, and we try to read and worship him as much as we can.

Although he is happy in Edinburgh, he is unsure of his future plans. Hearts would have to buy him out of that year because he still has a year to go at Union. He only considers Aberdeen and this Hampden semi-final in the present and is only thinking about it.