With Silas Katompa Mvumpa, VfB Stuttgart had a professional who was considered a future star.
Injuries and the fear of deportation followed.
Stuttgart – Werder Bremen's Ömer Toprak wants to drop the ball with his chest to his goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka much too casually.
A situation made for Silas Katompa Mvumpa, who intervened at the speed of thought and then walked provocatively slowly in the direction of the empty goal before letting the marble roll over the line.
With this goal, Silas caused a heated debate: was it unsportsmanlike behavior or was it a legitimate time wasting?
Regardless of which view you take, however, the scene reflects very well the self-image and self-confidence with which Silas appeared on the pitch at the time.
In a phase in which everything seemed to be going well for him and the Congolese not only inspired supporters of VfB Stuttgart with his inimitable dribbling and urge to score, but all of football Germany.
In his first 19 Bundesliga games, he scored a whopping eleven goals.
VfB Stuttgart: Silas' soaring came to an abrupt and painful end
It's been more than two years since the then promoted VfB Stuttgart won 2-1 against Werder Bremen, in which Silas contributed another goal in addition to the much-discussed one.
A lot has happened since then, however.
Much that put the career of the undoubtedly great talent to the test.
Starting with the torn cruciate ligament, which Silas suffered in a duel with the then Bayern defender David Alaba.
An injury that abruptly and painfully put an end to Silas' soaring in the 2020/21 Bundesliga season.
But even after he had initially recovered, the Congolese was unlucky: First he contracted the corona virus before a severe dislocated shoulder put him out of action again for several months.
"Silas is certainly still a long way from his optimal form."
Fabian Wohlgemuth, sports director of VfB Stuttgart
In the meantime, however, the dribbling artist is fit again – apart from minor setbacks.
Silas made a good impression in the pre-season and had visibly gained upper body muscles to prevent injuries.
But there is still no trace of the lightness that made him so special.
VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth told
BW24
: "Silas is definitely still a long way from his optimal form.
Given his injury history, that's not entirely surprising either."
VfB star Silas fell victim to a windy advisor
But is it really only because of the – admittedly serious – injuries?
Or is there more to it than that?
Because in addition to the physical problems, Silas has repeatedly dealt with the topic of his false identity over the past two years, about which he spoke publicly for the first time in spring 2021.
He explained that he had been forced by his agent at the time to switch to FC Paris from Congo under the false name Silas Wamangituka.
As a result, the consultant ultimately earned more money and had the young footballer completely under his wing.
When Silas now had to answer in court for forging documents, he said, according to the
Stuttgarter Zeitung
: "There were times when I lived like a slave."
"Silas is very relieved because now he has nothing to fear and finally has his freedom back."
Mehmet Eser, advisor to Silas
Those fierce words only give an idea of the hell Silas went through in order to achieve his dream of making football in Europe.
A formative phase of life, which he had to work through again in court in the past few months.
The judge made Silas ruthlessly clear that his personality development had partially fallen by the wayside in the past few years.
A view that, as can be heard, should not surprise everyone at VfB.
The harsh conclusion of the judge was: Silas "does not necessarily have the maturity of a 24-year-old." At the end of the proceedings, Silas was sentenced to a fine of 50,000 euros.
A manageable sum that goes to charitable institutions in Stuttgart.
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VfB star Silas Katompa Mvumpa was once one of the Bundesliga's rising stars, but then injuries and personal fates put the brakes on his flight.
© Press photo Rudel/Herbert Rudel/IMAGO
VfB sports director Fabian Wohlgemuth: "He can still be a very important player for us"
But what impact did the court case and the associated coming to terms with the past have on Silas' sporting performance?
Coach Bruno Labbadia said recently that he was sure "that will do something to you" and that he was glad that "it's all over."
The current Silas advisor Mehmet Eser made a similar statement to
BW24
: "Silas is very relieved because he now has nothing to fear and finally has his freedom back." According to Eser, the negotiation would have kept his player "very busy".
Among other things, it was always “about the fear of being deported,” according to the advisor.
Meanwhile, Eser doesn't think much of the judge's opinion that Silas is not mature enough: "That's outrageous.
She doesn't even know him.
That is a prejudice that a judge holding such an office must not express.”
Recently, Silas was less on the field.
Because of a strain and an unpleasant bruise on his shin, but also because of his weak form.
Sports director Wohlgemuth is positive about this: "Sometimes things can happen very quickly.
He can still become a very important player for us.”
List of rubrics: © Pressefoto Rudel/Herbert Rudel/IMAGO
