Shalulile (2nd left) celebrates with Sundowns players: Image via Facebook at Mamelodi Sundowns FC
Mazembe boss Katumbi furious with players after loss to Sundowns
TP Mazembe chairperson Moise Katumbi has slammed his club for the manner in which it played against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Shalulile (2nd left) celebrates with Sundowns players: Image via Facebook at Mamelodi Sundowns FC
TP Mazembe the chairperson has slammed the Congolese team’s players for their 1-0 loss to Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday. Moise Katumbi lashed at the players after the CAF Champions League Group A match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Striker Peter Shalulile scored for the hosts to finish at the top of the group. The Namibian converted from the penalty spot in the 38th minute. The result saw the visitors settling for second place in the pool. It means the Ravens might be drawn against ASEC Mimosa (Ivory Coast), Petro de Luanda (Angola), and Al Ahly (Egypt).
What Katumbi didn’t like about Mazembe’s performance
In reaction, Katumbi told www.tpmazembe.com that his players’ attitude contributed to the defeat. He called for improvements if they are to progress in the CAF Champions League. The club boss said the players were complacent. The chairman believes the players dropped their guard because Mazembe had already clinched the CAF Champions League quarterfinal slot. “We accept the defeat, but the players neglected the match because we were already qualified,” he is quoted as saying. “This is where we see that the work must continue. The midfield did not perform well in this match which we could win.”
Katumbi’s issues warning ahead of quarterfinal draw for Mazembe
The Mazembe owner has since raised the bar of expectations for the five-time CAF Champions League winners. He said he expects his charges to win the continental league title this year. “I hope that we will do everything to deserve the cup this year,” he said. Ahead of the draw for the CAF Champions League quarterfinals, Katumbi has since issued a warning, saying: “Mazembe is not afraid of any team. We will prepare accordingly.”
Mazembe coach echoes club chair’s remarks
Mazembe coach Lamine Ndiaye has since echoed Katumbi’s remarks, telling www.tpmazembe.com: “ [I am] disappointed obviously because we didn’t play our match. We respected this team too much. We lacked aggression…[they] didn’t play to win, otherwise, we were going to do it differently. Unfortunately, there were too many individual errors. That’s what made the difference. Perhaps, in my initial composition, I could have done it differently.”
Who else made the CAF Champions League last-eight?
Apart from Mazembe, Sundowns, Mimosa, Petro de Luanda and Al Ahly, the other quarterfinalists are Simba (Tanzania), Esperance (Tunisia) and Young Africans (Tanzania). CAF will conduct the quarterfinal draw later this month.
