The recent events that occurred during the Kinshasa derby between AS Vita Club and DCMP have shaken the Congolese football world, leaving the committee of the Congo Football League (Linafoot) on edge. Last Sunday, AS Vita Club won a hard-fought 2-1 victory over DCMP, in a match marked by the unfortunate incident of the intrusion of supporters onto the pitch of the Tata Raphaël stadium.
This new disruption has prompted the League secretariat to take rigorous measures, by suspending the result of match No. 50 pending the conclusions that will be drawn from the analysis of the official reports. This decision, in accordance with the regulations in force, aims to preserve the integrity and discipline within the Illicocash Ligue 1 national championship.
It is difficult not to note the recurrence of suspensions of results in the National Football League this season. Between the Lupopo-Mazembe match and the confrontation between the Cheminots and AS Simba of Kolwezi, Congolese football seems to be going through a tumultuous period.
In Group A, as in Group B, tense situations have led to postponements of results, highlighting security and organizational issues within the participating clubs. These successive suspensions highlight the need for in-depth reflection on the measures to be taken to ensure that the matches run smoothly and the safety of players, the public and officials.
It is imperative that the Congolese football authorities take firm and concerted decisions to stem these excesses and preserve the integrity of the national championship. This series of incidents must serve as an electroshock to establish more effective control and surveillance systems, while raising awareness among football stakeholders of the importance of fair play and respect for the rules of the game.
In these tumultuous times, Congolese football must recover and reinvent itself to regain its luster and greatness. Supporters, clubs, governing bodies and local authorities have a crucial role to play in ensuring a bright future for Congolese football, based on respect, passion for the game and sportsmanship.
The fate of Congolese football now lies in the hands of all its stakeholders, who are called upon to act together to restore the image, confidence and unity of the country’s most popular sport. Let us all be mobilized to offer a bright future to Congolese football, by promoting the values of excellence, integrity and solidarity that make this universal sport great.