MARTYRS' STADIUM

The pastoral stage of the Martyrs of Pentecost (formerly known as the Kamanyola stadium) is located in the commune of Kinshasa. Built by the Chinese, this building with a capacity of 80 000 places is now the place of international meetings and sporting or cultural events. Considered by many specialists as the'cathedral'of African football given its size (or due to the enthusiasm of the spectators?), it replaced as a national stadium the mythical Tata Raphaël stadium. For the little history, the Martyrs'stadium had been débaptisé in 1997 during Kabila's accession to power. He received his present name in memory of Kimba and his companions who were hanged here on the Sunday of Pentecost 1966 under Mobutu. The stadium also houses the office of the Minister of Youth and Sports and the General Secretariat for Sports and different football associations in Kinshasa. Since 2008, a synthetic lawn covers the playground.