Women’s football in the Democratic Republic of Congo has recently made headlines with a disappointing and disturbing story. The AS Kabasha team from Goma, which came to participate in the 14th Congo Cup, found itself in a desperate situation during its stay in Lubumbashi. Threatened with being expelled from their hotel, suffering from hunger and no longer knowing where to find help, the players requested the intervention of Moïse Katumbi, president of TP Mazembe.
As a sports leader and a man concerned about the well-being of athletes, Moïse Katumbi responded positively to their request. He ordered the immediate release of funds for the purchase of plane tickets, thus allowing the players to return to their homes in Goma, North Kivu. However, this generous action aroused the anger and disappointment of the president of AS Kabasha, Richard Bongania.
According to Bongania, all return plane tickets had already been paid for three days earlier through the airline CAA. This claim is supported by images of plane tickets posted on social media by the AS Kabasha committee. Richard Bongania then called the players’ act a “scam”, accusing his own players of betraying their team and tarnishing his own name.
This affair caused an outcry among the sports community of Goma, describing this act as “high treason”. As TP Mazembe Women won the Congo Cup beating DC Bweremana in the final, it is sad to see that the focus is now on this incident rather than the teams’ sporting performance.
This story raises questions about the responsibility of players and teams, as well as the importance of sports ethics. Women’s football in the DRC has made great progress in recent years, and such incidents can damage the reputation and development of this sport.
In conclusion, it is important that players, teams and sports leaders act responsibly and ethically to preserve the integrity and growth of women’s football in the DRC. Support and solidarity between the different teams is essential to ensure a healthy and respectful environment in the world of sport