It was with goalkeeper gloves that President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi appeared, this Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at the Martyrs stadium in Kinshasa on the occasion of the gala match for the promotion of peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo ( DRC).
Through this unusual gesture for a President in office in the country, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi poses as a guardian of peace for a bright future. Quite a symbol at this time when all efforts are being made to restore peace in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
At the end of this meeting, the football legends of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were held in check by the African legends with a narrow score of 2 goals to 3.
Solidarity and peace
Sponsored by President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, this match saw the participation of stars of Congolese music and comedy, in this case Fally Ipupa, Gaz Mawete, Fiston Saï and Herman Amisi.
Samuel Eto’o Fils, Jay-Jay Okocha and Emmanuel Adebayor are among the legends of African football invited to this sporting event.
While reinforcing the appeal of football lovers, their presence underlined the unity and brotherhood that transcend borders through sport.
“It’s an honor to play here and support peace in the DRC,” Samuel Eto’o said after the match.
The event takes place in a difficult context for the DRC where armed conflicts continue to affect the population, particularly in the east of the country. Thus, this match aims to draw attention to the suffering of the Congolese and to promote a message of peace.
“We are here for the displaced children and to show our solidarity,” said Jay-Jay Okocha.
Around 100 displaced children from Goma were invited to attend this match, offering them a rare opportunity to experience a festive moment despite the tragic circumstances they are going through.
The event also included educational and cultural activities to raise awareness among young people about the importance of peace and sport.
-The funds raised during this meeting will be used to support victims of the conflict in the east of the country.
For the organizers, every contribution counts and that this event is a step towards the reconstruction and support of communities affected by the war.
The peace match was also an opportunity to organize educational workshops around football, aiming to promote sport as a vector of unity and personal development. These initiatives aim to inspire young Congolese to pursue their dreams despite obstacles.
Although the Congolese legends lost on the field, the strong point of this meeting remains the message of peace that it conveyed.
Many participants hope that this event will help to raise awareness of humanitarian issues in the DRC and encourage other similar initiatives across the African continent.
President Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi expressed his gratitude to all those who participated in this memorable event, affirming that “peace is a collective effort”.
“It is essential to join forces to build a better future for all Congolese,” he urged.
Mitterrand MASAMUNA