Author Topic: Mulumbu Retires... (Read 789 times)

Kicking Pigeons · « **on:** September 22, 2011, 04:28:13 PM »

from international football.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15021688.stm?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

DR Congo's Youssouf Mulumbu has announced his retirement from international football to concentrate on his career with his English club West Bromwich Albion.

The country's football association (Fecofa) confirmed it had received a letter from Mulumbu about his future.

"It is with regret that I write to let you know about my decision to withdraw definitively from international football with immediate effect," he wrote.

"This decision has been taken following long discussions with my family and medical advisers.

"I hope to have the opportunity to extend my professional career which is the guarantee for my family's security, by retiring from international commitments.

"It was an extremely hard decision for me to take, but I wish you and the whole team great success."
Continue reading the main story

It was an extremely hard decision for me to take, but I wish you and the whole team great success

Youssouf Mulumbu

Fecofa appear to have accepted the player's decision.

"We've just received the letter but haven't met to discuss it, but I don't think we can force a player to change his mind as he is free to decide what he wants," the association's secretary general, Ediba Elonga, told BBC Sport.

The 24-year-old midfielder, who made his debut for the Leopards in 2008, renewed his contract with West Bromwich Albion in June.

He returned to the DR Congo squad in March after deciding to stay away for several months complaining about the disorganisation of the Congolese football authorities.

But then in May he withdrew from the squad just hours before he was due to travel to Paris to prepare for a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritius.

Meanwhile new DR Congo coach Claude LeRoy has named a 48-man provisional squad for next month's 2012 qualifier at home to Cameroon.

The list includes Gael Kakuta, who is on loan from Chelsea to Bolton Wanderers, and Jordan Lukaku, the younger brother of the Chelsea star Romelu.

Both are able to change national allegiances, providing they get the approval of football's world governing body Fifa, as neither have played a competitive game at senior level for another country.

Kakuta has only played for France at under-17 and under-19 level while Lukaku, who plays in Belgium for Anderlecht has only played for the Belgian under-19 side.

DR Congo are unable to qualify from Group E for next year's Nations Cup finals in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Not really surprising since he's never seemed to have a good relationship with his international team, still, I always think it's a shame when a player doesn't want to represent his country.

BB74 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:36:24 PM »

One less to worry about come the African Nations.

I think he has weighed up his options and has realised DR Congo wont qualify for anything worthwhile any time soon.

DommyKeay19 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 22, 2011, 04:48:39 PM »

Jeez that was heart attack material what a relief, we really would be stumped without the little fella.

Rich99 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 22, 2011, 11:05:12 PM »

I thought this was about his performances so far this season.

jasonbot · « **Reply #4 on:** September 23, 2011, 10:19:11 AM »

I don't understand why he's talking about his families security. Good on him if he's supporting them financially though!

PsalmXXIII · « **Reply #5 on:** September 23, 2011, 10:23:37 AM »

Wonder if the people who slagged off Foster for not wanting to play International Football any more will criticise Mulumbu for doing the same?

QRHcooper · « **Reply #6 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:48:31 AM »

Quote from: PsalmXXIII on September 23, 2011, 10:23:37 AM

Wonder if the people who slagged off Foster for not wanting to play International Football any more will criticise Mulumbu for doing the same?

It means more us as ENGLAND fans when a player no longer wishes to play for his/our national team, I'm sure that Congo fans will be disappointed, but as someone has already mentioned, at least we won't lose him to the African nations!
So a bonus for us not for Congo!

Albion79 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:05:03 PM »

think its hard to compare Foster and Mulumbu, its a completely different ball game with players from certain parts of the world though.

Its each player to their own but with England they are treated like kings and have people to wipe there arse for them, with some countries there is that much unrest you have to consider things like your families and your own safety when travelling, the Togo squad was a prime example, players got shot, hostage attempts, etc as a squad member you would think is it worth it and i am sure i read DR Congo have had similar issues although not to the same extent.

If he is retiring for Football reasons then i would adopt the same stance as my thoughts on Foster not playing for England but if its for non football reasons such as safety then i would do the same.

As i say its just my thoughts, each to their own but for 100% football i think representing your country should be the best thing you can do.

BobTaylor · « **Reply #8 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:05:59 PM »

The people of congo that call him a disgrace you cant really stick up for him, when players do it for england for example bentley it does make your blood boil. At 26 and playing the best football of his career its not good is it, similar to if gareth barry retired.

Londonbaggymike · « **Reply #9 on:** September 23, 2011, 12:36:29 PM »

I'm utterly partisan about this. I was disgusted when scholes retired from international duty and have been with every English player since. Players from other countries can do whatever they bloody like.

WBASPE77 · « **Reply #10 on:** September 23, 2011, 05:39:51 PM »

Good news for us, as there wont be the change of him picking up an injury, playing for his Country.

divinewind · « **Reply #11 on:** September 23, 2011, 08:54:22 PM »

Good news for us,but a bizarre decision for a 24 year old.

I think Internationals should be put to bed now,most players picked don't want to play,(Foster) and half of them weren't born in the countries they play for anyhow.

Rob Earnshaw born in Zambia plays for Wales.

Dexy · « **Reply #12 on:** September 23, 2011, 09:07:25 PM »

Quote from: divinewind on September 23, 2011, 08:54:22 PM

Good news for us,but a bizarre decision for a 24 year old.

I think Internationals should be put to bed now,most players picked don't want to play,(Foster) and half of them weren't born in the countries they play for anyhow.

Rob Earnshaw born in Zambia plays for Wales.

For me internationals died the day the Champions league grew so popular,now you can see almost all the best players in the world two/three times a week on your tv .As for Mulumbu it is good for us but makes you wonder if he played for more of an international force would he have retired so early.

WBASPE77 · « **Reply #13 on:** September 23, 2011, 11:09:40 PM »

Sadly international football doesnt seem to be important to some players any more.

Perrybarrbaggy · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2011, 02:57:24 AM »

I'm glad, means no needless time spent playing meaningless friendlies at least

I can understand players retiring, especially when they want to prolong their career

For most of us, club support is 10x that of international support

Rich99 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 24, 2011, 09:10:38 AM »

Quote from: divinewind on September 23, 2011, 08:54:22 PM

Good news for us,but a bizarre decision for a 24 year old.

I think Internationals should be put to bed now,most players picked don't want to play,(Foster) and half of them weren't born in the countries they play for anyhow.

Rob Earnshaw born in Zambia plays for Wales.

He lived and grew up in Wales from the age of four, I think that's fair enough.

And no, it's not time to put 'International football to bed'* in my humble opinion, it's the only top tier part of the game that is left genuine to some degree.

*2010 World Cup final Holland Vs Spain - British TV viewing figures - 20 million
*2010 Champions League final - British TV viewing figures - 4.4 million

*England Vs German just a first round knockout game got 27.7 million British viewers

The Premiership is a total joke, a near scam, it's not even a competition anymore in my view, in a way I have more time for the Championship. It's simply all about money, nothing else. You have rich men buying titles for themselves, what's so great about that? Sadly, the huge amounts of money poured into it often blind a section of the population and that's what they want.

I think we need to protect and stick up for International football myself, that's not to say it doesn't have its own faults, it does.

As far as Mulumbu goes, I think he should be playing for his country. Having said that, of course there is a possible benefit for Albion in that we wont lose him to the ANC.

kie the baggie · « **Reply #16 on:** September 24, 2011, 10:13:11 AM »

can congo even qualify for the acn?

Albion79 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 24, 2011, 10:17:18 AM »

Quote from: Rich99 on September 24, 2011, 09:10:38 AM

He lived and grew up in Wales from the age of four, I think that's fair enough.

And no, it's not time to put 'International football to bed'* in my humble opinion, it's the only top tier part of the game that is left genuine to some degree.

*2010 World Cup final - British TV viewing figures - 20 million
2010 Champions League final - British TV viewing figures - 4.4 million

The Premiership is a total joke, a near scam, it's not even a competition in my view, in a way I have more time for the Championship. It's simply all about money, nothing else. You have rich men buying titles for them self, what's so great about that? Sadly, the huge amounts of money poured into it blind a section of the population and that's what they want.
As far as Mulumbu goes, I think he should be playing for his country. Having said that, there is a benefit for Albion in that we wont lose him to the AN.

Totally agree with everything you say mate, especially the highlighted bit.

Baggies · « **Reply #18 on:** September 24, 2011, 11:29:45 AM »

I agree with you as well Rich, apart from FIFA's profiteering which casts a dark shadow over this strand of competition, it is still the ultimate level for me.

Mulumbu's case is hard to comment on. Strange to pull out at this age for the reasons given but he is French which may mean he doesnt have the same affinity to the country and we have already seen that he isnt keen on the set up in the Congolise football association and there could be hidden factors behind his retirement wich he couldnt put in the letter.

AlbionBest · « **Reply #19 on:** September 24, 2011, 09:36:56 PM »

Did well for a guy in retirement !!!!

Rich99 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 25, 2011, 12:12:17 AM »

Quote from: PsalmXXIII on September 23, 2011, 10:23:37 AM

Wonder if the people who slagged off Foster for not wanting to play International Football any more will criticise Mulumbu for doing the same?

To be honest, based on Foster's performances so far this season, I'm not sure he deserves an England shirt anyway.