TP Mazembe: ‘Coach Lamine Ndiaye going nowhere’

Congolese top-flight league side TP Mazembe have slammed its supporters’ call for the resignation of coach Lamine Ndiaye following a slow start to the Linafoot Ligue 1 season.

The supporters showered the Senegalese manager with insults after the Ravens’ goalless draw against AS New Soger in a league game on Sunday, before they came back to their senses to apologise to the coach via a pre-recorded video.

Despite the apology, Mazembe’s Management took great exception to the fans’ ill behavior and has since released a strong statement through secretary general Frédéric Kitengie.

“The management of TP Mazembe strongly condemns the behaviour of certain fanatics who, following the draw against New Soger this Sunday, November 16th, displayed an inappropriate attitude towards coach Lamine Ndiaye. Such acts have no place in a football stadium or within the Mazembe family,” reads the statement.

“This behavior constitutes an unacceptable attempt to destabilize a coach who is working diligently and methodically on a clear and coherent sporting project.”

Mazembe reaffirms Moïse Katumbi’s trust in Ndiaye

The club further called for calm, saying it was premature to start panicking after just five league games, reaffirming team president Moïse Katumbi’s ‘complete confidence in Ndiaye.’

“His resignation is not on the agenda. TP Mazembe acknowledges the public apologies issued by some of the affected supporters in a video… and urges them to maintain this sense of responsibility. The club calls on all its fans to support the team with dignity, loyalty, and respect,” the statement adds.

After the game against Soger at Kamalondo Stadium, the fans are reported to have hurled insults at the Senegalese mentor. This was by far not an isolated bad day at the office for the side that once used to boss the Champions League.

Mazembe have now drawn their second consecutive league match, following their draw against AS Simba. The Ravens have collected just eight points from five games or rather dropped seven points. Consequently, Ndiaye’s men occupy fifth position of stream A of the Linafoot league while Soger are placed 11th with four points.

Ndiaye has a chance to redeem himself when he leads his wards into a league battle against Cercle Sportif Don Bosco on Thursday.

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