The Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte (Martyrs of Pentecost Stadium), also known as simply the Stade des Martyrs and formerly known as Stade Kamanyola, is the national stadium of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), located in Lingwala in the Lukunga District of Kinshasa. With a seating capacity of around 80,000, it is the biggest stadium in the DRC, alongside Stade Tata Raphaël, and ranks as the fourth-largest stadium in Africa, along with Stade Tata Raphaël, National Sports Stadium, Moi International Sports Centre, and Stade Leopold Senghor. It serves as the home stadium for the DR Congo national football team, AS Vita Club, and DCMP (Daring Club Motema Pembe), primarily used for football matches and hosting a wide array of events. These events include athletics competitions, religious gatherings, political campaigns, concerts, and cultural celebrations, making it the largest multifunctional venue in the country.

Originally constructed in 1993, the stadium was renamed in 1997 to honor the ministers, including Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba, who were publicly hanged in Léopoldville (present-day Kinshasa) on Pentecost, 2 June 1966.

History 
The Stade des Martyrs was originally called Stade Kamanyola. Construction began on October 14, 1988, and ended on October 14, 1993. Its official inauguration took place on September 14, 1994, with a friendly match between the Leopards of Zaire (now known as the DR Congo national football team) and the Malawi national football team, following the African Cup of Nations. The construction cost was approximately 38 million and was carried out by the Chinese, similar to other prestigious achievements during the regime of Mobutu Sese Seko. It replaced the former National Stadium, Stade Tata Raphaël. Tout Puissant Mazembe, a Congolese professional football club based in Lubumbashi, played numerous away games at the Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte.

Following the ousting of Mobutu Sese Seko from power by AFDL (Alliance des Forces Démocratiques pour la Libération du Congo-Zaïre) led by Laurent-Désiré Kabila in 1997, the stadium was renamed "Stade des Martyrs de la Pentecôte" in memory of four ministers purged by Mobutu Sese Seko and hanged at the site on June 2, 1966: Évariste Kimba, Jérôme Anany, Emmanuel Bamba, and Alexandre Mahamba.

In the early days of Laurent-Désiré Kabila's rule, the stadium became the center of controversy and criticism from human rights organizations. It was alleged to have been used as a prison for dignitaries of the former Mobutu regime and individuals suspected of collaborating with it. Reports from organizations like Journaliste en danger (JED), a Congolese non-governmental organization for the defense of press freedom affiliated with Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), highlighted the use of the stadium as a military camp, where many people were held for extended periods in dungeon-like conditions.

According to Journaliste en danger (JED): "When AFDL troops entered Kinshasa on May 17, 1997, the stadium had become a military camp for some time. Many people were kept for a long time in one of the stadium premises which had been turned into a dungeon. I have a brother-in-law who spent 36 days there in June-July 1997."In 1998, during a football match between AS Vita Club and Motema Pembe at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, government troops opened fire, resulting in the death of four people.

On December 5, 2004, the Democratic Republic of the Congo earned their first victory over South Africa (Bafana Bafana) in a historic match at the Stade des Martyrs. Kadamba Musasa and Mbala Mbuta Biscotte came off the bench to inspire them to a 1-0 win over Bafana Bafana in the Group B 2006 FIFA World Cup Africa Qualifier game.

Renovation 
In 2008, the government underwent a major renovation of the Stadium in response to FIFA's recommendations to bring it up to international standards. The rejuvenation included upgrades to the wardrobe facilities, sound systems, lighting, electronic marker tables, seating arrangements, press gallery, security systems, and fire safety measures. The project cost a significant $15 million and involved a team of four experts, including technicians from the Netherlands, South Africa, and Norway. To ensure top-quality turf, the Dutch company Edell Grass brought in 140 tonnes of synthetic rollers and 150 tons of sand in containers from the port of Boma to Kinshasa.
In June 2021, the former Ministry of Sports, Serge Tshembo Nkonde, allocated almost $5 million for the Stadium's renovation in anticipation of an inspection visit by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). However, after completing the renovation and applying to host international matches, the CAF deemed it unsuitable on February 19, 2023. The CAF noted that the Congolese state must complete the necessary work before requesting a new inspection for CAF's approval. The CAF found that the overall quality of the work completed in the stadium was not satisfactory according to the standards required for a modern stadium. The detailed February 9 report highlighted several issues, including the "non-existent" media space, internet connection, press conference rooms, medical facilities, and referees' locker rooms that required improvements. Additionally, the stadium's outer perimeter areas "do not guarantee a safe and secure environment for hosting international football matches, as these areas are abandoned and without any proper maintenance."

As of April 2023, the construction and site development work was approximately 80% complete. The ACGT (Agence Congolaise des Grands Travaux) was already carrying out the work at the martyrs' stadium, according to a dispatch from the presidency's communication unit. On May 17, President Felix Tshisekedi visited the two gymnasiums under construction, with capacities of 3000 and 2000. During this inspection visit, President Tshisekedi also went to the Tata Raphaël Stadium. By July 2023, student homes and numerous infrastructures had been rehabilitated, and the Stadium was supplied with water with cisterns installed by Regideso (Régie de distribution d'eau).

2023 Jeux de la Francophonie 

In July 2019, the stadium was awarded to host the 2023 Jeux de la Francophonie. The games, held every four years with the aim of promoting the French language, will welcome approximately 3,000 athletes from over 40 countries. The sports featured in the event include athletics, basketball, football, wrestling, and cycling.

See also
Stade Cardinal Malula

References

External links

Photos at cafe.daum.net/stade
Photos at worldstadiums.com
Stadium picture
Photo at fussballtempel.net

Sports venues completed in 1994
Stade des Martyrs
Stade des Martyrs
Sport in Kinshasa
Athletics (track and field) venues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congo, Democratic Republic of
Football venues in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Chinese aid to Africa
1994 establishments in Zaire
Lukunga District