AS Vita Club, an emblematic club of Congolese football, is making a real turning point in the composition of its workforce in preparation for the 2024-2025 sporting season. After the release of 11 players on June 19, the team led by Amadou Diaby made the decision to part ways with its two veterans, Patou Ebunga and Djo Issama Mpeko. This decision is part of a strategy to rejuvenate the team to face future challenges, including the Confederation Cup and the DRC national championship.
Patou Ebunga and Djo Issama Mpeko, true legends of Congolese football, have left their mark on the history of sport in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Patou Ebunga, aka Saoulé, has a remarkable career, having started his career at Mabwilu before joining AS Vita Club in 2010. His time at the Kinshasa club was marked by a CAF Champions League final in 2014, where he shone against CS Sfaxien of Algeria.
Djo Issama Mpeko, for his part, achieved recognition with TP Mazembe before returning to AS Vita Club at the start of the 2023-2024 season. Nicknamed “Ya Djo”, the right-back has written great pages of history with the club, notably winning the 58th edition of the Congo Cup. His time with the Vert et Noir de Kinshasa, between 2011 and 2013, remains etched in memories, with no less than 115 matches played before his departure for Angola.
This decision to part ways with these two emblematic players, although difficult, demonstrates the desire of AS Vita Club to renew its squad to remain competitive on the national and continental scene. It marks the end of an era, but also opens up new perspectives for the club and its supporters. As football is a sport in constant evolution, it is essential for clubs to adapt and reinvent themselves to stay at the top.
It is certain that the departure of Patou Ebunga and Djo Issama Mpeko will leave a void within AS Vita Club, but it also offers the opportunity for young talents to assert themselves and take over. This is what is at stake for the club and its leaders, who will have to put together a solid and competitive workforce to face the challenges to come. Football being a sport of passion and emotion, there is no doubt that AS Vita Club supporters will remain loyal to their team, whatever the composition of the squad.