It was December 12, 2020. At that time, Silas Katompa Mvumpa was still known as Silas Wamangituka for VfB Stuttgart across the field. In Dortmund. Spectators were not allowed due to the corona. It’s a shame, because they couldn’t have stopped being amazed. For the first time in almost fourteen years, VfB won again in Dortmund.
Silas and the “Young Wild Ones 2.0”
In the 5:1 win – in words five to one – Silas Wamangituka in particular got the trade press enthusiastic. The “kicker” wrote at the time: “Due to his speed and his agility, Silas Wamangituka simply couldn’t be grabbed by Dortmund on Saturday.” Silas scored two goals, assisted one and was named Player of the 11th Matchday. VfB hardly let Dortmund get into the game, defended well and were extremely effective offensively. The outstanding Silas had made it 1-0 with a penalty kick, Reyna equalized to make it 1-1 before the break, but that only briefly interrupted the strong Stuttgart game. VfB played the favorites dizzy even after the restart, Silas scored to make it 2-1, Tanguy Coulibaly, Philipp Förster and Nicolas Gonzalez made it 5-1 with their goals.
After this 11th matchday, Stuttgart was in 7th place with 17 points. What was then read about this VfB was pure enthusiasm: “Young, fast and really good”, “uncompromising attacking football”, “these Stuttgart are doing in the present fun and promise big things for the future”. The “Junge Wilden 2.0” were born on December 12th, 2020 at the latest.
Do it again, VfB….
A good 16 months later, in April 2022, VfB are fighting to stay up. The double goal scorer from back then is now called Silas Katompa Mvumpa, has torn his cruciate ligament after a month-long break and is doomed to spectate again after only a short return to the pitch. A shoulder injury and surgery is called VfB must finish the season without the Congolese. But not without confidence.
The head (trainer) is also responsible for this before the game against Dortmund, Pellegrino Matarazzo. The success of that time has not played a role in the preparation so far. “But we also know that if we push ourselves to the limit, then we’re also able to annoy a big opponent,” said Pellegrino Matarazzo ahead of this 29th match day and the home game against Dortmund. The motivation, however, lies in “continuing our path. To be able to win again, against a top opponent”.
Bring that feeling back…
Anyone who asks the fans of the two clubs about this game will get a frustrated shake of the head from the BVB supporter and see a smile in the eyes of the VfB fans. When Pellegrino Matarazzo was asked about December 12th, 2020, he thought for a moment. Back then in Dortmund he had raved after the game and said: “I’m proud of my team”.
Maybe Matarazzo has remembered that now. And perhaps in this brief moment of reflection he also asked himself whether he could bring back the images from this game and even more, the emotional state of the time back in his head. Why not. Even if everyone knows what Matarazzo says: “If we want to get something, we have to go to our limits.” It would be worth a try…
Source: SWR