TP Mazembe one step from Confed final

LUBUMBASHI - TP Mazembe are one step away from making their CAF Confederation Cup final debut when they host Stade Malien this weekend.

Friday, October 18, 2013

LUBUMBASHI - TP Mazembe are one step away from making their CAF Confederation Cup final debut when they host Stade Malien this weekend.The two sides clash in a semifinal return leg match in Lubumbashi on October 19. Mazembe lead Stade Malien 2-1 from the first leg played on October 6 in Bamako.The DR Congo club coach Patrice Carteron said half the job has been done, but they will still not take Stade Malien lightly. "We will work very hard in the second leg semifinal with the same humility we have done in the first leg,” Carteron said."We will do everything it takes get to get the team up to the final.” However, a dark cloud hangs over Mazembe’s home leg match.It is uncertain whether Mazembe will be daring enough to field their Zambian trio of midfielders Rainford Kalaba and Nathan Sinkala including defender Stopilla Sunzu.This follows a club-versus-country row with Zambia who had requested for the latter’s earlier release for Chipolopolo’s friendly against Brazil on October 1.And Stade Malien coach Pascal Janin is not giving up any hope despite the challenge awaiting him in Lubumbashi this weekend. "The second leg looks complicated but we still have a chance,” Janin said.Winner over both legs will advance to the first leg final on November 22 and return leg on December 1.