DR Congo football powerhouse drops Kenyan striker amidst team crisis

DR Congo football powerhouse drops Kenyan striker amidst team crisis

Festus Chuma 13:00 - 20.07.2024

DR Congo giants FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo have released the Kenyan forward and ten others in a significant post-season team overhaul.

DR Congo giants FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo have announced a significant change to their roster following the 2023/24 league campaign.

The Railmen have decided not to renew the contracts of 11 players including Kenyan U-23 striker Sydney Lokale.

This decision marks a major transition for the team as they look to revamp their squad for the upcoming season.

"The St Eloi Lupopo Football Club today announces its decision not to renew, after several seasons of collaboration, the contracts of twelve players," the club stated.

The move comes as part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate the team and build a competitive squad for future challenges.

Sydney Lokale who joined the club in 2022 from KCB FC is among the notable names leaving.

His tenure at KCB was challenging with both the player and the team struggling to achieve desired results.

Lokale's journey with FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo has been a continuation of his professional growth, which previously saw him venturing abroad to Finland's Helsinki IFK on a season-long loan in 2020.

"The sports committee would like to express its gratitude to Seraphin Ngondo, Lita Demani, Aime Tshiyen, Kartier Dembele, Merdi Masamba, Héritier Kasongo, Abdou Tchatakora, Junior Bayanho, Sydney Lokale, Issifou Bourahana, Dimitri Bissiki, and Patou Kabangu for their contribution to the successes and club achievements over the past four years," the club's statement added.

Lokale's career has been marked by significant milestones including helping the Kariobangi Sharks lift the FKF Premier League Super Cup in December 2018 by scoring the decisive goal against Gor Mahia.

His early international career saw him scoring for Kenya in the Africa U20 Cup of Nations qualifier against Rwanda on April 1, 2017, and later representing the Kenya U23 side against Mauritius in November 2018.

Follow us on X (Twitter) for more updates.