The story of Maurice Ondjolet, one of the biggest icons of Congolese football – Football – Sport News Africa

“A baobab has simply left us. All in Siafooumou (district the place the deceased resided, editor’s word)”, writes on Fb, Nestor Issanga, sports activities journalist. “We lose an icon of Congolese soccer“explains Janvion Moukakounou, former Crimson Satan and now technical director on the Pointe-Noire departmental soccer league.

Phrases and reactions which might be sufficient to measure the diploma of unhappiness that’s at the moment strangling all the soccer world of Congo-Brazzaville following the disappearance on July 16 in Pointe-Noire of Maurice Odzola dit Onjolet Fontaine.

However little or by no means identified to the brand new generations, “Fom” as he was nicknamed, it’s a Congolese citizen born on September 28, 1942 in Brazzaville who will make the rain and the great climate of soccer on the very starting of independence in 1960.

The person of the 1965 African Video games

Because of his good performances (effectivity within the execution of set performs together with free kicks, the success of his dribbles) inside Botafogo and FC Gazelle, two former golf equipment, he joined the nationwide staff in 1962, the identical 12 months of the founding of the Congolese Soccer Federation (FECOFOOT).

Absent from the very first match of the Congolese eleven on April 13, 1960 towards Reunion (4-1 success for the Congolese) and through Congo’s greatest defeat (1-8) towards Madagascar on April 19, 1960, Maurice Ondjolet was there when Congo received its very first worldwide trophy by successful the primary version of the Tropics Cup organized by the Central African Republic.

If the Congo didn’t return in the course of the second and final version (organized and received by Cameroon) of this outdated competitors, the midfielder and central defender was captain of the Congolese nationwide staff when the latter received the gold medal on the first African Video games organized from July 18 to 25, 1965 in Brazzaville.

The primary participation within the CAN is a bitter failure. Housed in group B with the DRC, Ghana and Senegal, “Congo sport” (nickname of the nationwide staff on the time) comes out of this 6^e version with zero factors and solely two objectives.

His choice eradicated for the CAN 1970, Ondjolet is absent in the course of the coronation in 1972. However not sufficient to discourage the teenager who, as a participant, will create his personal membership, FC Abeilles primarily based in Pointe-Noire. Inside Abeilles, he assumes each the capabilities of captain and supervisor. He then joined V Membership Mokanda, one other Pointe-Noire staff with which he performed within the 1971 African Cup of Champions Golf equipment.

Creator and Supervisor

However Maurice Ondjolet can also be the supervisor who managed a number of golf equipment in Congo together with Diables noirs, CARA and Étoile du Congo. And from its passage to probably the most profitable membership (11 trophies) within the nationwide championship, the Congolese bear in mind way more the elimination within the spherical of 16 of the African Cup of the 1980 champion golf equipment of the omnipotent Hafia Soccer Membership of Conakry.

As coach of the Crimson Devils, Maurice Ondjolet was “this supervisor, instructor and father who contributed enormously to the blossoming of my profession. For instance the artwork of taking penalties or pictures on objective. And if at membership degree and even within the nationwide staff, officers entrusted me with this heavy job, it was as a result of I utilized his directions and classes to the letter.“, acknowledges Janvion Moukakounou.

And Georges Bweillat, former sports activities journalist and creator of a number of books on Congolese sport to summarize: “ fairly often after we discover the historical past of Congolese soccer, we see way more the heroes of Yaoundé 1972. However earlier than that, there was a era that made Congolese soccer shine. They’re the pioneers. And among the many pioneers, Maurice Ondjolet“.

It’s due to this fact this pioneer that the Congolese soccer elite is getting ready to accompany to its last resting place…. With in all probability honors worthy of a legend. But a legend that everybody or virtually could have left to struggle alone for greater than ten lengthy years, towards the illness that has simply received. And Maurice Ondjolet isn’t the one one to undergo the diktat of normal indifference. However in all probability not the final.

John Ndinga Ngoma