Kazembe: I made the most of the chance I got
JOHANNESBURG: TP Mazembe coach, Pamphile Mihayo Kazembe, arrived at Lucas Moripe Stadium’s auditorium with the Caf Confederation Cup gold medal draped around his neck and it wouldn’t be far-fetched to assume that he slept with it because of what it means.
The Lubumbashi-born coach made history with his boyhood club by helping them become the first team to retain the trophy. They did that at the expense of SuperSport United, who they beat 2-1 on aggregate after playing to a goalless draw in the second leg in Atteridgeville on Saturday. Making history with Mazembe is nothing new for Kazembe. In 2010, as captain, he led the Ravens to the final of the Fifa Club World Cup to become the first African club to reach that stage before losing to Inter Milan.
“This result and to win this trophy is very special for me because I have been with TP Mazembe since 1998,” Kazembe said. “I grew up here. I won every Cup with the team as captain. I won many Cups also as an assistant coach. This is not my first Cup as head coach because we also won the league. But this is the biggest Cup in my coaching career. I would like to thank the players for the way they accepted me and worked with me. (On Saturday) we have a Cup because of that relationship. I made the most of the chance I got.”
Kazembe had a difficult task of stabilising what looked like a sinking Mazembe ship. For a second successive year the Ravens were demoted to the Confederation Cup after they were knocked out of the Champions League. Mazembe also lost a number of their star players, either to retirement or Europe.
Kazembe had a lot to do when he took over in April, following the sacking of Thierry Froger after the Ravens were knocked out of the Champions League by CAPS United in the first round. Kazembe has exceeded expectations with what he has done in a short space of time.
“I am a son of this team,” Kazembe said. “This is my team. I have been here for a long time. I have given them two Cups in one season. It’s up to them to decide if they will again give me one year or six months. I will be here. I will continue. If they bring another coach, I will remain here and help him because this is my team.”