Paul-José Mpoku: Life in South Korea, His Experience at the African Cup, and His Return to the National Team

The phone rings on the other side of the world, more than 9,000 kilometers from Brussels. Paul-José Mpoku takes a break between two training sessions in Changwon, where his Incheon United team has been training for a few days. At 31, the former Standardman – who has just passed his UEFA B coaching exam – is starting his second and final year of contract in South Korea, far from the fervor he would have liked to experience in the DRC. “Before talking about the Can and Korea, I would also like to say a word about what is currently happening in the east of the DRC (Editor’s note: more than six million people have been displaced, especially in the North -Kivu, following the resurgence of the March 23 Movement rebellion). The blood must stop flowing. Life is so precious. Those who have the power to stop this genocide must stop this.”

I promise, the message will get through. But are you in full preparation for the new season?

“Yes. Everything is fine, but I admit that the internships are quite long. We first had two weeks in Thailand then we followed up with another internship in Korea. The season only starts in March, but the sessions are sometimes very tough. Last year it was so intense and heavy that there were a lot of injuries.”

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“Here, lots of people walk their dogs in strollers.”

You have been in South Korea for twelve months. What conclusion do you draw?

”For my first season, it was pretty good. I scored 5 goals and gave 5 assists, but I think I could have done better. Like everywhere, it always takes time to adapt to know the mentality of the team and the functioning of the club. But I came across a very good group.”

Do you like the country’s mentality too?

“Yes. It’s true that it’s a bit of a special country because there are some things that are very different culturally and that we’re not used to. I’ll take an example: lots of people walking around with strollers and you think at first that they’re babies. Then you realize they are dogs (laughs). But the people are very endearing, the streets are clean, the cities are very safe.”

A few weeks ago, you faced Marouane Fellaini’s team in the Asian Champions League. It was actually the last match of his career.

“It’s true. I had the privilege of playing in this match and receiving his very last jersey which he gave me afterwards. When I spoke with him, he didn’t yet know what he would do. But it was incredible to compete like that on the other side of the world. When I was young at Standard, he was one of my “big brothers” with Axel Witsel and Réginal Goreux. Marouane told me: ‘can you imagine Polo, we no longer saw each other even in Belgium and now we see each other again in Korea’. We all went to different places and it’s true that it’s difficult to cross paths. But if we had been told, when we were still kids in Liège, that we would end up in China or Korea…”

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“I had the privilege of receiving Fellaini’s last jersey.”

Where you are, there is an 8 hour time difference with Belgium and 9 hours with Ivory Coast. Are you having sleepless nights to follow the African Cup?

”I admit it’s difficult. The matches are at 3 or 5 a.m., so it’s hot (laughs). I tend to watch the summaries the next morning, but I follow everything the team there does very closely.”

Paul-José Mpoku launches Safe: “We want our guests to feel free to say what they want” Present at Can 2017, Mpoku scored in the quarter-final against Ghana. ©AFP or licensors

You played in two great Can, in 2017 and 2019. What is happening today is even more beautiful?

“We went to the eighth and then to the quarter-finals. They were incredible memories. And this year, the enthusiasm is even stronger. With social networks, it gave an additional dimension to the event. But it’s true that it’s crazy when you think about it. The team narrowly qualified for the CAN, then arrived in the tournament having lost almost all of their friendlies, then had only draws during the group stage. And then here they are in the semi-final. It’s crazy. But the fact of not having been mentioned among the favorites before the tournament surely helped.”

How do your former teammates experience this?

”I am in contact with several players. And it’s phenomenal what’s happening. It even goes beyond sport because we see on social networks many people who share the colors of the DRC by claiming their love for the country. Artists, personalities… We have the impression that everyone is Congolese now (laughs). But it’s good.”

We saw you during the team’s preparation camp at the beginning of January.

“Yes. I was in Abu Dhabi at the same time as the group so I took the opportunity to come see some players with whom I am very close. Notably Bakambu, Joris Kayembe or my brother-in-law Chancel Mbemba (Editor’s note: Mpoku’s wife’s sister is married to Mbemba).”

This is a group with a good mix of experience and renewal.

”The coach wanted to rejuvenate the team a little. It’s a bit of a succession. Before my generation, other players fought for us. Then we fought for them. And now it’s up to them to do it for the next ones. But the coach took players who have a love of the country.”

Last month, Paul-José Mpoku visited Cédric Bakambu and the rest of the selection. ©DRRocky Bushiri, a former Imp at the African Cup of Nations: “I accepted after three days of reflection”

Like you. But you have been absent from the selection for almost 2 years. For what ?

”After my last match against Morocco (Editor’s note: defeat in the play-off for the World Cup in March 2022), a lot of things happened. I gave heart and soul for this nation, I did things with other players that were beyond our remit because we wanted to help this team. We wanted a framework, a structure and professionalism to be able to compete with other major nations. But when President Constant Omari stopped in 2021, it became very complicated at the federation. People wanted to hinder us. Some people were bad with us when we wanted to do good for the nation. And it obviously hurt me and I didn’t want to know anything more. Fortunately, Fifa got involved in all this and the people at fault were kicked out. Ultimately, what we wanted is happening now.”

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“I didn’t want to know anything more, but I am available to the team again.”

So you could come back if the coach calls you?

”At first, I had barely arrived in Korea so I focused on that. But it’s true that veterans like Gaël Kakuta and Cédric Bakambu told me to contact the coach because everything we wanted to put in place is happening. A little before the Can, I had a conversation with the coach. Not because I wanted to come and play the Can, but because it was the right time to discuss with him and explain the context (Editor’s note: Sébastien Desabre arrived in August 2022). We talked about his methods, what he wants to implement. And he knew my situation. My approach pleased him. It’s true that I didn’t want to hear anything for a while because there were a lot of things with the federation and not against the coach, but now I can be available to the team. Things have calmed down.”

You were talking about fights for the new generation. Among your struggles, you campaigned for dual nationals to choose the DRC.

”With Cédric Bakambu, it’s true that we contacted several players. I took care of those in Belgium and he in France. We don’t want to force them or oblige them, but simply convince them to come and see how it goes. There are also lots of players who have asked for advice because Congo is obviously very different from Europe.”

With the Congolese in a café in Matonge for Morocco-DRC at the CAN: “Seeing the Congolese selection in an international tournament is rare”

The results at the Can can also convince young people to opt for the DRC rather than Belgium or France, for example.

“Yes. I’m sure many will want to play for Congo. When you play for the national team, there is a excitement and sensations that you cannot receive elsewhere, no matter the team in Europe. And thanks to what’s happening with Can, we feel it even more. So I think it can help players choose Congo.”

Ivory Coast, your opponent in the semi-finals, also had an incredible run.

”When you play at home, there is extra pressure and responsibility. They were almost out from the group stage. But this is precisely what allowed them to free themselves, as if it were a resurrection and this second chance had to be honored. I think they are in this state of mind. So it will surely be a great semi-final.”

If the team goes to the final, will you go to Ivory Coast to support them?

”My coach here will complain if I do that (laughs). Unfortunately, I can’t leave like that. But I would still be their first supporter in Korea.”

Paul-José Mpoku is preparing to begin his second season in South Korea. ©DR
2024-02-07 05:50:00
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