TP Mazembe coach Mihayo unsure of future with DR Congo giants

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Monday Nov 27, 2017. 12:00

TP Mazembe head coach Pamphile Mihayo has revealed that he wants to stay at the club even if he is replaced as coach.

The tactician was in charge of the DR Congo giants as they retained the CAF Confederation Cup by beating South Africa's SuperSport United 2-1 on aggregate following a goalless draw in Pretoria on Saturday.

Mihayo has been coach April but there is a uncertainty surrounding the club at present, particularly since the exiling of the team's president Moise Katumbi to Belgium two years.

"Maybe if they bring in another coach, I'll still be there to serve. I want to help this team because it is my team," Mihayo said on BBC.

"Now it is up to the club's directors to decide if they are going to give me another six months, or a year. I'm ready to continue.

"I'm a son of the club. This team - TP Mazembe - is my team. I've been here for a very long time. I have given them two cups now in one season," he said.

The former Mazembe captain was in charge when Mazembe won the league title earlier in the year just after he took over from Frenchman Thierry Froger.

Mihayo is now in charge of several of his ex-teammates were in the line-up with him when he captained the Mazembe side that reached the 2010 Club World Cup final.

"The players accepted to work under me, to listen to my instructions and I must thank them for that," the 41-year-ole continued.

"Congratulations to my players, they did not give any opportunity to SuperSport in the game, they did not make any fouls nor did they concede any penalties.

"They were ready, they defended well because they are experienced players."

Mazembe will take on 2017 CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in the 2018 CAF Super Cup.