Zola Matumona facts for kids

Zola Matumona is a talented former professional footballer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He was born on November 26, 1981. Zola was known for playing as a left winger, which means he played on the side of the field, often helping to attack and score goals.

Zola's Club Journey

Starting Out in Congo

Zola Matumona began his football journey at a club called Styles of Congo. After one season there, he moved to AS Vita Club in Kinshasa. This was a big step, as AS Vita Club is one of the most famous football clubs in the DR Congo.

Zola quickly became a favorite among the fans. They even gave him the nickname "Room." This was because his playing style reminded them of a famous German player, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

During his five seasons with AS Vita Club, Zola achieved a lot. He helped his team win a championship in Congo. They also won several local league titles in Kinshasa. He even played in important African competitions like the CAF Champions League and the CAF Cup. Zola was recognized as the best player in Congo multiple times before he left the club.

Playing in Brussels

In 2007, Zola moved to Europe to play for FC Brussels in Belgium. The club paid about €60,000 to bring him there.

While at FC Brussels, Zola had a difficult time with the club's chairman. There was a disagreement that led to Zola leaving the team for a short period. The club's main sponsor, Kia, even stopped their support because of the issue. However, after discussions and a public apology from the chairman, Zola decided to return to FC Brussels and finish his contract.

Zola's skills caught the eye of clubs in England. He had a chance to train with Birmingham City. He even joined them for a pre-season tour in 2008. During a match against a Czech team, he played well and impressed the manager, Alex McLeish.

Moving to Mons

After his time at FC Brussels, Zola Matumona joined Mons. This was another Belgian club, playing in the second division. The coach, Rudi Cossey, was keen to have Zola as a key player for the 2009–10 season.

Playing for His Country

Zola Matumona also proudly represented his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He played his first international match on August 20, 2002, against Algeria. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.

His first goal for his country came on June 5, 2005. It was during a match against Uganda, which the Democratic Republic of the Congo won with a great score of 4–0. Zola played many games for his national team, showing his dedication and skill on the international stage.

Career Statistics

International Matches and Goals

Zola Matumona played many games for the DR Congo national team. Here's a look at his appearances and goals each year:

Here are the details of the goals Zola Matumona scored for his country:

List of international goals scored by Zola Matumona

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition	Ref.
1	5 June 2005	Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Uganda	4–0	4–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	25 September 2005	Konkola Stadium, Chililabombwe, Zambia	Zambia	2–2	2–2	Friendly
3	16 June 2007	Independence Stadium, Windhoek, Namibia	Namibia	1–0	1–1	2008 African Cup of Nations qualification
4	8 June 2008	Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Malawi	1–0	1–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	13 June 2008	El Hadj Hassan Gouled Aptidon Stadium, Djibouti City, Djibouti	Djibouti	3–0	6–0	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
6				5–0
7	11 August 2010	Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt	Egypt	2–5	3–6	Friendly
8				3–6
9	27 March 2011	Stade des Martyrs, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo	Mauritius	2–0	3–0	2012 African Cup of Nations qualification