Kinshasa, October 13th, 2026 (CPA).-Véronique Singa, a member of the Congolese Football Association (FECOFA) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said on Tuesday, at the opening of a training seminar conducted by representatives of AS Monaco of France for the DRC’s technical staff, that investing in the training of coaches means investing in the future of Congolese football.
“Investing in the training of our coaches means investing in the future of our football in general and, in particular, in the future of our Leopards,” said Ms. Véronique Singa, FECOFA’s fourth vice-president. “We want strong academies with qualified trainers,” Ms. Singa said in her address. “The importance of this partnership between the DRC, the ‘Heart of Africa’, and AS Monaco lies in advancing our football potential and, above all, securing the future of football in the DRC, a country with a genuine pool of talent that must be fully developed,” she explained, adding: “For three days, our coaches, who have come from all over the country, will learn alongside AS Monaco experts, using the same theoretical requirements and working methods, with the aim of making the DRC a genuine training hub. These are among the reasons why FECOFA is firmly committed to the success of this training program for the development of our football.”
For his part, the Minister of Sports, represented at the ceremony by his chief of staff, welcomed the organization of the training session. “I welcome the organization in Kinshasa of this seminar entitled ‘Advanced Training for Academy Coaches: Passing on High Standards’. It comes at the right time to give grassroots football a strong start,” said MagloireKasongo, chief of staff to Sports Minister Didier Budimbu.
“I therefore urge you, as youth coaches, to make the most of this three-day training programme in order to deepen and further enhance your knowledge and help Congolese football recover,” he concluded. He also took the opportunity to thank President of the Republic Félix Tshisekedi, the entire central government and Sports Minister Didier Budimbu for their respective contributions to the conclusion of the partnership agreement with AS Monaco, signed on June 24, 2025, for a period of three years.
On Tuesday morning, Sébastien Muet, director of the AS Monaco Academy, presented the theoretical component of the training programme entitled “Advanced Training for Academy Coaches: Passing on High Standards” in the main hall of Tata Raphaël Stadium, in the Kalamumunicipality of central Kinshasa.Scheduled to run from Tuesday, October 13, to Thursday, October 15, the programme is intended for the first group of Congolese technical staff under the sports partnership signed between the DRC Ministry of Sports and Recreation and the Monegasque club.
“We Have Learned New Things” (Seminar Participant)
A total of approximately 82 coaches and trainers were brought together by FECOFA’s Technical Directorate to attend the training session and learn the fundamentals presented by AS Monaco representatives. Among those attending the program at Tata Raphaël Stadium was a trainer from the Belor Football Training Centre (CEFORBEL) in Kinshasa.
“My impressions are positive. This is something new that we have welcomed with open arms. The coaches are highly competent and have extensive experience. This partnership is already beginning to bear fruit. This is only the beginning, and we hope it will serve as a model for achieving the objectives that have been set,” said Bedrick Mukuna, a trainer at the Belor Football Training Centre (CEFORBEL) in Kinshasa, following the first day of training led by AS Monaco coaches.
AS Monaco in Kinshasa After AC Milan
As part of this partnership aimed at promoting tourism and football in the DRC, AS Monaco is the second European club to visit Kinshasa under the initiative.Italy’s AC Milan was the first club to participate, in December 2025. On that occasion, representatives of the Italian club trained officials of the Kinshasa Football League (EPFKIN) at the CercleLibanais in the Ngaliema municipality.