Tout Puissant Mazembe

In his first press conference of 2015, the coach Patrice CARTERON has expresses long on ambitions of TPM, the spirit state of international that were at the AFCON and the first play-off of the match scheduled for this Thursday at Kibassa stadium against JS Bazano. Extrats.

Patrice CARTERON, do have you an idea about JS Groupe Bazano and how do you intend to start the play-offs?

« My two assistants, David MWAKASU and Pamphile MIHAYO, supervised Bazano against Don Bosco. We had to do it in relation with the match on Thursday. We know anyway that during these playoffs, as it was the case in the first part of the championship, we must have TPM at 100% to win the games. The goal for us is victory especially after and especially to be the top in play-offs. Also to take some distance against our opponents who left points on the way, this is the case of AS V.Club and DCMP for example. Up to us to impose our brand from the beginning of the play-offs. »

Those who played the AFCON are ready for this Thursday and C1 in less than a month?

« Mentally, they are not yet operational. Jean KASUSULA for example for personal reasons is not there yet, Joël KIMWAKI just joined us on Monday, and the two from Ivory Coast ASSALE and GBOHOUO have not yet arrived. The workforce will be complete in a few days. We have three weeks to fully address the Champion’s League with a draw very complicated to start We went through last year by playing Séwé Sport, our fans have realized later by seeing this team in the final of the CAF Cup. We'll see if Mamelodi Sundowns is confirmed in his second leg after the draw in Seychelles.

If we have to face this South African team, we will need a great TPM. The objective this season: to be as effective outside as at home. Having a conquering spirit. Since the takeover, we worked much harder, players digest well this preparation. I think we should use these play-offs and matches to come for both, win faster and be remembered. Also showing our opponents that this year it will be difficult to face TPM

At home as well as outside. All while being humble, because we must stop always be too good, to be surprised especially outside.» 

What is the behaviour of your players who were in Equatorial Guinea? Apart from three Ivorians, have you designated other players?

«With the Chairman Moïse KATUMBI, we had felt very well by recruiting three players of Séwé Sport. Of the three, two were in the 23 who contested the AFCON and one was on the list of 26 pre-selected. TPM has managed a major challenge by recruiting two champions of Africa... I do not think the team needs a lot more than that. In adding today a player-by-line, it opens a lot of perspectives. I remember that before the semi-finals of the Champion’s League in 2014, we lost Boubacar DIARRA, and his absence has made us very badly. Today, the arrival of Christian Koffi KOUAME will compensate this and also to have Boubacar DIARRA as a substitute in central defense, there was a lack of competition in this post. The number this year is very balanced; I think the team is much greater than the last two seasons. »

How to you explain that your players are often stand with their selections and average in TPM?

« CAN is a big competition like the World Cup. Sometimes it is legitimate for the players by wearing the national jersey, feel sublimated. They just differ in selection and are avaerage in the club. This year we have a balanced workforce that will allow us to have a real competition. Last year, some players compared to what we can expect from them should provide a lot of effort.

Journalists were also wrong because they have tended to protect some players, who last year were not performing. I look forward to some because we cannot continue to have opportunity more than fifteen times per game and score one goal or two in. We maximum we need to be much more realistic.» 

About competition how do you decide to separate Robert KIDIABA and Sylvain GBOHOUO?

 « After the semi-final lost against Entente Setif, all fans and media worldwide including, told me that we must stop with Robert KIDIABA. A few weeks later, the question , comes back to me, how wonderful it is for me. I will sleep soundly when I must decide who between Robert KIDIABA and Sylvain GBOHOUO will play this year. We have two great goalkeepers, it is extraordinary. I am very pleased to have both, but then there will be a competition and May the best man win.

Last season, you did not have a true playmaker, have you thought about that for this season?

«Certainly last year we had sometimes lacked a true playmaker. It was not easy to bear the burden of the transition after the departure of a player like Trésor MPUTU. He is no longer there, we worked with other systems. The objective is to be able during the game to change the system and to be efficient. On Thursday against Bazano, you will see how we will start our season with a different tactical approach. »