The company DIVO Sarl has announced, this Saturday, July 6, 2019, the start of renovations of the Stadium Tata Raphael Kethule in Kinshasa for next week. According to the general manager, Deo Kasongo this message comes after a technical and financial evaluation conducted by experts and approval of the best renovation option of this historic sports temple.

« First and foremost, I want to thank the head of state, Félix Tshisekedi, for his personal involvement. It is with a real pleasure that we will renovate this legendary stadium so that we can inaugurate it on Wednesday, October 30th. This will be the symbolic date of the boxing match of the century between Mohamed Ali and Georges Forman, « Kasongo said.

#RDC La société #DIVO de ⁦@deodivo⁩ annonce la rénovation du Stade Tata Raphaël à Kinshasa. Ce bijou abandonné sera fermé, dès la semaine prochaine, pour les travaux à entreprendre avec l’accord du chef de l’Etat. Inauguration prévue le 30 octobre 2019 | via ⁦@Zoom_eco pic.twitter.com/pWIwPZzM9I

— Zoom Eco (@Zoom_eco) July 6, 2019

If the stadium is only a part of the complex concerned by this modernization, the works that will start target in particular the exterior layout and all the interior part of this football temple.

As for the financing of these renovations, the General Manager of DIVO Sarl reassured that no round would come from the public treasury but from private funds. And that the involvement of the Head of State has allowed them to have the places, to do the work it takes with a modern vision while keeping the historical part of the stadium.

« I would like to reassure you that no round of the state will come out for these works. It is to demonstrate that we are concerned by all that belongs to us as a Congolese people. This stage belongs to us. We are part of this country, of this city. With a little ingenuity, we found funds to renovate this stadium, « Kasongo said.

This renovation will be followed by a series of activities marking the celebration of the 45th anniversary of this fight of the century whose program will be unveiled soon.

« It’s a commendable initiative. Congolese leaders must be animated by a managerial spirit. Because, you have just seen that it is possible to realize big projects without the money of the State. Deo Kasongo just proved it again with his company. We can only encourage it, « commented the stadium manager, Patsho Panda Jakulu.

#RDC #RenovationStadeTataRaphael #KinshasaYaSika Patsho Panda (gestionnaire du stade) salue l'initiative de la société DIVO d'entreprendre la rénovation du stade Tata Raphaël et le sens managérial de ⁦@deodivo⁩. pic.twitter.com/sKfcimP0kS

— Zoom Eco (@Zoom_eco) July 6, 2019

He invited other economic operators to replicate such initiatives to modernize other sports facilities not only in Kinshasa but throughout the Republic in this spirit of partnership.

For the company DIVO Sarl, it is a pride to work to renovate this historic stadium.

In this regard, Deo Kasongo reacted in these terms: « my vision is always to bring innovation, fresh and pragmatic ideas, that goes from the old to the new. Why not modern to do all the time for my city and for all the DRC. It’s not for nothing that we talk about Kinshasa ya sika.  »

Eric TSHIKUMA