Ndiaye (left): Photo Credit: TP Mazembe FC.
TP Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye has described every match in the elite Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Linafoot league as a cup final owing to piling injuries and absentees.
Ndiaye spoke ahead of Wednesday’s league clash against Jeunesse Sportive Groupe Bazano, saying his team was struggling to cope with injuries and tight fixtures after playing four games in 10 days.
“We must pay tribute to the players. These problems started in a difficult period, the elimination in the CAF Champions League. They knew how to remobilize themselves by trying to get back in shape in this national championship. All our matches are finals. We have to take our hats off to the players,” he told the club’s website.
The club goes into the next game without injured Boubacar Hainikoye, Faveurdi Bongeli, Oscar Kabwiti, John Bakata, Ibrahima Keita and Dieubéni Ndongala while Mor Talla Mbaye is ill.
Mazembe website indicates that José Mugwengi and Etienne Rabbi Mayombo have been ruled out due to family bereavement.
Despite these challenges, Ndiaye acknowledged the effort of the players to see the Moise Katumbi-owned side leading by three points ahead of Saint Lupopo FC at the top of stream B of the DRC league.
"We played four games in ten days before regenerating ourselves to start again with the same state of mind. This is to play a good game and try to take the maximum number of points,” he added.
“This is another tough game in perspective. Our opponent will come to play their best game of the season. It's up to us to be at our best level to do something good.”
The fixtures have been coming thick and fast for the Lubumbashi-based giants who played against Tanganyika FC on February 23 and Saint Lupopo three days later.
After Wednesday’s fixture, Shinkuku FC and US Panda FC are Mazembe’s next opponents on March 9 and 14 2025.
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