The comic play of Germany’74 is prepared

At first glance, it may seem that way Mwepu Ilunga I don’t know the regulations. Laughter, jokes and confusion among the fans who filled the parkstadion of Gelsenkirchen when they saw the Zairian defender shoot like a bullet towards the ball on a free kick that the Brazilians had to concede on June 22, 1974 in the last game of the group stage.

of inept, nothing

Joseph Mwepu Ilunga He was born on August 22, 1949 in what was then the Belgian Congo and spent his entire sporting life defending the jersey of TP Mazembe of Zaire with whom he won in 1967 and 1968 the African Cup of Champions Clubs. At the age of 21, he established himself at Leopardos as a member of the squad that was declared champion of African Cup of Nations in March 1974, a few months before the final stage of the World Cup in Germany 1974.

In other words, he is not inept that someone put him up to argue world. He knew exactly what he was doing when he stepped out of the wall to kick the ball before it hit. Rivelino either jairzinho they will commit a foul. The comic play of World Cup ’74 it is prepared. It was an act of desperation. But at the time, only members of the Leopards’ roster knew why. A threat passed over their heads: they had to keep the score down to 3 goals.

The pressure of Mobutu Sese Seko

To qualify for West Germany World Cup 1974 There is only one place left and Morocco have won just one game and need the remaining two victories to go to the World Cup. Mobutu Sese Seko (the dictator who ruled the Zaire) is very clear that his country will compete with World Cup, Yes or yes. He assured that the arbitration will be “comprehensive” in the interests of the Zairian Leopards. The match was played Kinshasa finished 3-0 and, after the match, Morocco protested earlier FIFA angry at the partial arbitration suffered in that first leg. The FIFA He decided to do what he always did: look the other way. The Moroccans then decided not to play in the second leg and two goals were awarded to the Leopards and their classification.

The first part of the plan Mobutu it came out perfectly.

a complex group

The dictator is so high that he promises his players that they will receive all kinds of luxuries: houses, land or cars as well as a huge bonus for every game won. The draw puts them in a tough group: Scotland, Yugoslavia and Brazil. First game and defeat 0-2 against Scotland (with a funny secondary purpose) and there the thunder box is discovered. The defeat displeased Mobutu who delayed the promised payments to the footballers, hence the choice of Zaire rebelled and decided not to play in the second match Yugoslavia. Three days of uncertainty ended up unblocking the FIFA because I cannot tolerate the mockery of a suspension at the last stage of a world. The highest body paid almost 3,000 German marks to each footballer for the game to be played.

Mental stress and fatigue means that after 20 minutes, Zaire lost 3-0. So the Zairian coach, definitely a Yugoslavian, Blagoje Vidinicdecided to replace the starting goalkeeper in the 21st minute Kazadi Muamba. final score, Yugoslavia 9-Zaire 0. It’s not meant to be annoying Mobutu.

A serious notice and comic action

Mobutu took this result as the pulse of the players and declared that if in the next match against Brazil their team lost by more than three goals, it is not necessary for them to return to their country. The first goal fell in the 12th minute, the work of jairzinho and the first half ended gloriously 1-0. the second did Rivelino in the 66th minute. In the 77th minute the referee Nicholas Rainea call a foul in favor of Brazil border of the Zairian area.

There were 13 minutes left in the game and Leopards feared the worst. While Rivelino Observing the position of the barrier and the distance to the goal, the action that triggered the surprise in the stadium took place. With all his strength, lunge he came out of the barrier and kicked the ball towards the Brazilian field. The referee immediately issued a yellow card and repeated the shot, which ended up wide behind the Zairian goal. A minute later valdomiro scored the third goal. The Brazilian didn’t want to cause further damage and the match ended 0-3.

An even worse threat

Of the 14 goals received, none scored and last in their group, the selection of Zaire he returned to his country fearing retribution. That they are not few. The squad automatically stayed for four days at the Presidential Palace according to newspapers of the time. Kilasu Massamba He recounted years later that the president told them before leaving for the airport through a national team delegate: “Any player who stays in EuropeI will destroy your family.” Most of the team was forgotten. some like the goalkeeper Kazadi Mwamba died in poverty, while others were like goalscorer Mulamba Ndaye they ended up as impoverished in other countries of the continent.

lunge passed away on May 8, 2015 at the age of 66 at Democratic Republic of the Congo as a result of a long liver disease, but his desperation and his courage to rebel against an injustice will always be remembered.