Tout Puissant Mazembe

Some comments following the publication of an article by "Jeune Afrique" suggest that TP Mazembe will reduce its budget, which would imply a decline in its ambitions. Too bad the management of the club was not consulted, because these are assertions that the club management wants to correct. Here is the new strategy of the club as it was presented to us.

TPM intends to reduce its recruitment away but has not lowered its budget as it has been erroneously stated. The Chairman Moïse KATUMBI has the means to offer his club the biggest stars of African football and he will not hesitate to do so if necessary and if the opportunity presents itself.

In past, the club often has been accused of turning to foreigners while the DRC revealed young talents. The club's record shows that these recruitments were judicious and effective. They were necessary insofar as the training policy had not yet borne fruit and because the Congolese clubs displayed exorbitant transfer amounts when the TPM wanted to recruit one of their players.

Now the club has resolutely decided that the time has come to limit its recruitment outside the country after making a large investment in training of players. From now on, the promotion of young people from its two training centers will be a priority for the future. The proof, the club now has 5 hopes in its squad. And this is only the beginning of this new cycle which must strengthen "the Congolese identity" and the rejuvenation of the TPM.

To accompany the new strategy, the contracts of some foreign players were not renewed last year; The same will apply to those whose contracts are ongoing but which will not meet the expectations of the technical staff. Over the years, young people from the KFA and Moïse KATUMBI Soccer School will join the professional group, while recruitment outside Lubumbashi and abroad will be carefully targeted. The Chairman's project is modeled on that of FC Barcelona's Masia, which relies on training and complements the workforce by releasing a substantial budget in a targeted recruitment in order to meet the club's high sports ambitions, without jeopardizing its financial balance.

As for the new coach, it is well known that alongside investment in training, the club has trusted its former players, that it has funded all their trips to Kinshasa and elsewhere to complete their background as Football coach. Pamphile MIHAYO at the TPM, Isaac KASONGO who has proved himself with CS Don Bosco and Willy MONGONGO with the youngsters of the KFA give concrete proof of this way of preparing the future by promoting former professional players. By adding Robert KIDIABA soon, TPM will have a "local" staff capable of taking responsibility for leading the club to the highest level. Within a balanced budgetary framework.