TP Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye has reportedly questioned the commitment of some of his players following an underwhelming CAF Champions League group stage campaign, claiming they are not motivated enough.
According to Congolese football website Footrdc.com, the Senegalese coach said this on Friday in a pre-match press conference in Kinshasa ahead of Saturday’s Group A dead rubber against Group A leaders Al Hilal Omdurman of Sudan.
“Among the players, there are some who are not motivated and who do not want to play, but reach out at the end of the month," he is quoted saying.
"Is this normal? However, we often hear people talking. Do you really think that the coach that I am does not want to win matches? But I have to do it with the players who are motivated and determined to defend our colours. Mazembe needs players who work hard."
Apart from questioning players’ commitment, the coach is said to have cited injuries as having contributed to the team’s dismal run in the continental league competition. The five-time champions have missed out on the quarterfinal qualification ticket after losing 1-0 to MC Alger and 3-1 to Yanga FC in back-to-back Group A games.
Such a dismal run has seen Ndiaye’s team bottom of the group with two points going into Saturday’s game against table toppers Al Hilal who have 10 points, two ahead of second-placed MC Alger whereas Yanga have seven points.
Meanwhile, club president Moïse Katumbi has urged Mazembe supporters to come in large numbers on Saturday assuring them that the team will come back stronger next year. To save the honour and preserve the pride of the five-star club in the Champions League, the Ravens will look for a victory against Al Hilal on Saturday in Lubumbashi.
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