In 2020, when summoned to the national team of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the young Swiss goalkeeper of Congolese origin, Timothy Fayulu (20 and a half years old) is full of ambition. During his first gathering with DRC, he makes it clear to the technical staff and public opinion his desire to take over as the number 1 goalie.

To temper the boy's eagerness they make it clear to him that it doesn't work that way! And that the then first-choice goalkeeper, Joël Kiassumbwa, had even been a World Champion with the Swiss youth teams. But he had to spend a long time on the bench for the Congolese selection... Sitting behind Matampi Ley in the goalkeeper hierarchy, biding his time patiently...

In March 2021, fans of Congolese soccer are astonished. In a short video, Timothy Fayulu explains that he has chosen to play with Switzerland in anticipation of the Euro U-21 Hungary-Slovenia 2021. And that he gives up on committing to the DRC. It's a shock.

Unfortunately, during that tournament, Fayulu will be third in the goalkeeper hierarchy and will not play any match. Humiliated, even disillusioned, the boy looks again towards the Congolese selection.

But things have changed a lot in the Congolese selection... Even in terms of the goalkeepers' hierarchy, Mpasi Lionel, who came after Fayulu, has become the starter. Even Dimitri Bertaud, a luxury backup at Montpellier, was able to play a match in the African Cup of Nations with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Timothy no longer sleeps peacefully. Lately, he has been continuously courting the DRC to return to the national team, especially since he is still eligible.

Having had a good season in Swiss Division 2, Timothy convinces part of the public who believe that the boy should be forgiven. A large part remains categorical, comparing this boy to an unfaithful woman who cheated on her husband with a neighbor before realizing that the neighbor was much worse as a partner. The final decision will therefore be up to the technical staff of the Leopards!

Tribune by Mati Osango