TP Mazembe grand return home frustrated

CAF Confederations Cup winners TP Mazembe of DR Congo will take longer than planned to return home after their flight was delayed.

Mazembe, who beat Supersport United on aggregate Saturday in Pretoria, South Africa to bag the continental honors were expected to fly directly from Johannesberg to Lubumbashi for celebrations but their flight was delayed for 10 hours.

The trip was subsequently cancelled and rescheduled for Tuesday but the team will now fly to Ndola, Zambia before connecting by road to their base.

Thousands of fans had been expected to receive the team at the airport in Lubumbashi to welcome the team with their latest trophy.

The Ravens are also the defending DRC league champions and have a league fixture to honor on Wednesday against Don Bosco.

Club’s exiled president who is also the chief opposition leader of DR Congo Moise Katumbi reads politics in the delay.

He accuses President Kabila’s government of denying the team landing rights.

“Why should a team that has won a continental cup be denied landing rights in their own country; just because the team belongs to me?” Katumbi told BBC.

“This is not about Moise Katumbi. The victory is for the Congolese people. That’s why I have been saying Kabila is bad for human rights.”

Even though he didn’t attend the finals second leg at Lucas Moripe Stadium, Katumbi paid for 5000 fans tickets and hired 20 buses to ferry them to the venue.

Anti Kabila chants filled the air after the trophy presentation as the fans invaded the pitch to celebrate with the players.