Zola Matumona facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 26 November 1981 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, Zaire | ||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left winger | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2002 | AS Vita Club | ||
| 2003 | FC Saint Eloi Lupopo | ||
| 2004–2005 | AS Vita Club | ||
| 2006 | Primeiro de Agosto | ||
| 2006–2009 | FC Brussels | 85 | (17) |
| 2009–2012 | Mons | 75 | (14) |
| 2013 | Primeiro de Agosto | 16 | (2) |
| 2014 | Mons | 9 | (0) |
| 2014–2016 | Renaissance Kinshasa | ||
| International career | |||
| 2002–2014 | Congo DR | 47 | (9) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Zola Matumona, born on November 26, 1981, is a former professional footballer from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He played as a left winger, known for his speed and skill on the field.
Contents
Playing for Clubs
Starting His Career
Zola Matumona began his journey in football at a second-division club called Styles of Congo. He then joined AS Vita Club in Kinshasa, one of the biggest football clubs in the DR Congo. Fans quickly loved him and called him "Room." This nickname was a nod to the famous German player, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
During his five seasons with AS Vita Club, Matumona achieved great success. He helped his team win a championship in Congo. They also won several league titles in Kinshasa. He even played in important African tournaments like the CAF Champions League and the CAF Cup. Matumona was recognized as the best player in Congo multiple times before he left the club.
Time with FC Brussels
In 2007, Matumona moved to FC Brussels in Belgium. He joined the club for about €60,000.
While at FC Brussels, an incident occurred in November 2007. Matumona left the club after he felt he was treated unfairly by the club's chairman, Johan Vermeersch. The chairman later apologized publicly for his words. After discussions, Matumona agreed to return to FC Brussels and continued playing for them until 2009.
Later, Matumona caught the attention of clubs in England. He had a trial with Birmingham City during the 2007–08 season. He even joined their pre-season tour in July 2008. He impressed the manager, Alex McLeish, during a match against a Czech team.
Playing for Mons
After his time at FC Brussels, Matumona joined Mons. This was a second-division club where coach Rudi Cossey wanted him to be a key part of the team for the 2009–10 season.
Playing for His Country
Zola Matumona also played for his national team, the Democratic Republic of Congo. His first international game was on August 20, 2002, against Algeria. The game ended in a 1–1 draw.
He scored his first goal for his country on June 5, 2005. This happened during a match against Uganda, which the Democratic Republic of Congo won 4–0. He continued to represent his country in many matches.
Career Numbers
International Appearances and Goals
Here's a look at how many games Zola Matumona played and how many goals he scored for the DR Congo national team each year:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| DR Congo | 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2006 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2008 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2011 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 50 | 9 | |
