Stade Tata Raphaël, Sports stadium in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Stade Tata Raphaël is a multi-purpose stadium in the Kalamu commune of Kinshasa, with a capacity of 60,000. Its stepped concrete terraces rise in tiers, and the pitch is synthetic turf, installed after the original surface was replaced with grass from Stade des Martyrs. A reddish-brown track runs along the field, where a dugout with a checkered back wall stands.
The stadium opened in 1952 as Stade Roi Baudouin and was renamed Stade du 20 Mai in 1967 following political changes in the country. It received its current name in 1997, reflecting the nation's evolving history.
The stadium serves as a gathering place where fans from across the city come together to support their teams and celebrate local football. Match days create a social space where people from different neighborhoods connect through their shared passion for the sport.
The stadium sits in the Kalamu commune of Kinshasa and holds 60,000 people. The pitch was relaid with synthetic turf taken from Stade des Martyrs during rehabilitation works begun after 2009. Access to the stands is via stepped concrete terraces; expect dense crowds on match days and keep to the paved walkway around the field.
The stadium's name honours Father Raphaël de la Kethulle de Ryhove, the Scheutist priest who initiated its construction; 'Tata' means father in Lingala. The 1974 Ali–Foreman fight was preceded six weeks earlier by the Zaire 74 music festival at the same venue, featuring James Brown and B.B. King.
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