Zola Matumona

Zola Matumona (born 26 November, 1981) is a Congolese footballer. He is currently playing for FC Brussels. He also plays for the Democratic Republic of Congo. Matumona won his second 2006 African Nations Cup award in a row in 2006 as the DRC held Angola to draw at the Caire Military Stadium. Matumona had plenty of work to do, both going forward and defensively once the DRC had Tresor Mputu sent off in first half. and he did both with some aplomb, as the DRC edged closer to the 2006 African Nations Cup quarterfinals. From April to May 2006 Matumona was linked with English Coca-Cola Championship side Stoke City but all interest in him was dropped after the departure of Johan Boskamp as manager. Zola is a speedy central midfielder with amazing technique and ball control. On 2 November, 2007, Zola walked out of FC Brussels after he accused club chairman Johan Vermeersch of making racist remarks towards him during a crisis meeting at the struggling club. He is reported to have told Matumona to "think about other things than trees and bananas".^[1] The incident also caused the clubs main sponsor, Korean car manafacturer, Kia to withdraw their sponsorship of the Belgian side.^[2] However on 7 November he agreed to return to the club after he held talks with the chairman, but sponsor Kia have decided not to renew their contract with the club.^[3]

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