TP Mazembe fans: ‘Sorry, coach Lamine Ndiaye’

All is not well with five-time CAF Champions League winners TP Mazembe in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s domestic league. And the Ravens fans are losing patience.

The supporters emptied their chests on helpless coach Lamine Ndiaye after he presided over yet another uninspiring result—a barren draw with AS New Soger on Sunday.

After the game 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, including 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.

How Mazembe fans have reacted to own behaviour

It was against that background that Mazembe fans turned the heat on the coach. However, the Lubumbashi team has since released a statement regarding the conduct of their followers.

In a statement, the club says the fans have now apologized to Ndiaye following such an inappropriate behavior.

“In a video released on Sunday evening, November 16, TP Mazembe fans apologized to coach Lamine Ndiaye for inappropriate behavior following the 0-0 draw against New Soger,” the statement reads.

“Regretting the outbursts of anger, hostile shouts, and inappropriate behaviour directed at the coach, the fans acknowledged that these actions in no way reflect the club’s values and stated that they reacted out of frustration.

“In their message, they reaffirmed their respect for the coach, their commitment to the ongoing sporting project, and their desire to support the team with unity and responsibility. The fans called on the entire Mazembe family to move on and support the team calmly for the remainder of the season.”

The Lubumbashi-based side has signed many players desperate to reclaim the old glory days. Mazembe, who missed out on CAF club competitions for this season following a fifth place finish, began their Linafoot Ligue 1 campaign with a 3-1 victory over CS Manika in October.

However, the wheels came off in the next game as the Ravens lost to city rivals FC Saint Éloi Lupopo 2-1 in a game that saw one of their fans pelted to death.

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