Tout Puissant Mazembe

New TPM coach, Thierry FROGER is aware of the task ahead. His objective will be to make a performing team that has lost some important elements. It is up to him to find new formulas, to give confidence those who have remained and the young people who are beginning. Introduced to players in their HQ in Pretoria, the technician was delighted to be the new guide of the Raven. First interview.

I am very happy to find a team whose successes I have been able to follow in Africa. Up on arriving at the hotel in Pretoria, I greeted all the players, they look concentrated but not yet to the maximum and that's normal. I also met the technical staff who received me very well, the sporting director Frédéric KITENGIE and the vice-president Mohamed KAMWANYA. I am happy to be with TPM for the beginning of a great adventure

What was your mission when you signed up with TPM?

When you sign up to the TPM, you come to win matches and titles with an approach to play well, to please the supporters because they are numerous and demanding. They deserve victories and trophies. I will try, right away, to continue because last season was excellent. We'll try to make a good start. A team is strong when its players, its supporters and its leaders are together. Being at the service of the club I think we will achieve beautiful things.

Winning with a very good quality of game

Chairman Moïse KATUMBI presented me the club and told me that there was an important direction to integrate young people with the elders and with their help. His most important recommendation is to win games so that we can win titles. In my mission, I have to advance the team with a different direction, but always winning with a very good quality of play. The main thing will be to keep the TPM at the highest level even if it will be difficult. I have an important task.

Are you familiar enough with African football to succeed?

Africa is so big and different that we do not know it all. I have a little acquaintance which will serve me. My stay in Togo made me learn the African methods and the players, even if they are different, I also worked with African coaches. I am here to know Africa but I also have a sufficient background and technical background that will help me achieve my mission.

A good coach is the one who advances his team

Everywhere when you arrive, you do not know everything. We discover on site. I also come to enrich my knowledge. But I am sure that my experience in this field will enable me to integrate very quickly.

One of the best French L2 coaches, can it become a better coach of Africa?

I do not want to be the best coach but I want TPM to play well and win. I want the players to be at their best, that's what I care for. Then, when the coach is said to be better, it is when there are good results and his team is progressing. This is the main thing in this business. Success is always collective with, for example, the staff members who will accompany me. Even if we always ask to wait at the beginning, it does not mean to say that we have many elements to make a great season and especially to please the supporters.

Even if changing the way of playing it always need time, I promise we shall go for excellence and the best for fans who want to have fun. I would have a single requirement in front of my players, which will make our strength: the collective in our game and the union with our supporters. Being altruistic, I want that in the future the players flourish and thus the team wins titles.

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