Anger and confusion has engulfed the football fans in the Democratic Republic of Congo after a match between TP Mazembe and FC Saint Éloi Lupopo scheduled for Saturday was called off.
Moise Katumbi, owner of the TP Mazembe football team was not spared with the growing anger as he was also denied from boarding his private jet to attend the football match at far away Joseph Kabila Stadium in the city of Kalemie.
“While leaving for Kalemie to support TP Mazembe, the DGM has just banned me from boarding my jet on instructions from their hierarchy in Kinshasa. They must know one thing, even if they lock me in a cage, I will give the word for the people to free themselves, it will not take long. KINA MWANZO, KINA MWISHO,” Katumbi said via platform X.
Katumbi was thwarted from leaving Lubumbashi’s International Airport, known as Luano.
His private aircraft was denied landing permission in Kalemie, the city to which the match was relocated due to potential violence concerns between rival fans, effectively causing him to miss the game.
Reports have emerged that while the two teams were preparing to return to the pitch, a few minutes before the match, the Linafoot officials present on site decided to cancel the meeting for reasons still unknown.
“Our sources in Kalemie suspect a call from Kinshasa would have changed everything, other sources cite the central government as the instigator of this surprising decision,” a local website footrdc reported on Saturday.
Patient Mutoshi the communications officer for Linafoot in Greater Katanga was quoted saying, the cancellation of this game was about ‘security reasons’, but didn’t give any details.
The football match, originally planned to take place in Lubumbashi, was moved to Kalemie due to fears of possible violence between the ardent fans of the TP Mazembe and FC Lupopo teams.
The prevention of Katumbi’s travel to the game venue points towards the complex interplay of sports, politics, and public sentiment in the DRC.
