
Audio By Carbonatix
TP Mazembe will compete in next year's African Champions League after being crowned champions of DR Congo in 2012.Even though AS Vita Club are contesting the league title in the courts, the country's football federation has submitted Mazembe's name as champions to the Confederation of African Football.
Vita Club will go into the draw for the Champions League as runners-up.The Kinshasa-based club is demanding the implementation of a recent announcement by the country's Sports Minister that the season would end early because of violence at several matches.Coached by former Senegal boss Lamine Ndiaye (pictured), Mazembe clinched the title by virtue of the fact that Vita Club refused to honour a fixture against them in Lubumbashi on 20 November."There's nothing more we can do, and we have referred clubs who feel they have been sidelined to the Football Federation's Committee to handle their grievances," Joseph Wombe, Deputy Secretary General of the League Organising Committee, said.In early November, Sports Minister Banza Mukalay decided that that the league would end prematurely because of crowd violence.
"League matches have become a place for violence and dirty behaviour around the country and I can't watch and not act," he said at the time.
His ruling came shortly after a game between Mazembe and St Eloi Lupopo was called off due to clashes between rival fans that left several people injured.At the time of the Minister's decision, Vita Club were top of the table, seven points clear of Mazembe, who still had four matches to complete.
DR Congo's federation eventually persuaded the Minister to grant an extension that would allow the league to completed - and the federation's secretary-general Badi Ediba is standing by the decision to award Mazembe the title.
"We can't see anything wrong with the report submitted by the League Organising Committee that declared Mazembe as the winners and naming the clubs that will represent our country in next year's Caf competitions," he told BBC sport."The federation is not concerned by Vita Club's lawsuit as it was addressed to the Sports Minister."
Both Mazembe and Vita Club are former African club champions, with Mazembe lifting the trophy four times, most recently in 2010, while Vita's sole victory dates back to 1973.DC Motema Pembe, who finished third in the league, and cup winners CS Don Bosco will compete in next year's Confederation Cup.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Partey, Inaki Williams start as Queiroz makes four changes for England clash
14 minutes -
LUV FACT-CHECK: NPP did not demand retraction from Kennedy Agyapong over Afari Hospital criticism
18 minutes -
80 children, 1 room: Bugbelle gets room for hope
21 minutes -
VRA warns public over recruitment scam, says it does not charge fees
23 minutes -
Accra dons national colours as fans rally behind Black Stars ahead of England clash
41 minutes -
UMB rallies support for Black Stars with Kumasi float as part of 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign
43 minutes -
Three former Hohoe E.P. SHS students arrested over the destruction of school property
1 hour -
Minority cry foul over exclusion from “Welfare” talks with President Mahama
1 hour -
Sales is not pressure: Your hardest-working salesperson may be costing you the most deals
2 hours -
Family raises safety concerns after Adwoa Safo’s brother granted bail
2 hours -
StanChart hosts inaugural digital assets summit in Accra
2 hours -
GMTF deepens strategic partnership with Multimedia Group to expand public awareness
2 hours -
Ghana to host Africa Monologue Challenge Season 3 as event celebrates continental creative integration
2 hours -
Adwoa Safo referred to Bank Hospital for removal of bullet pellets lodged in her head after Sunday’s shooting
2 hours -
48 bullets were fired at Adwoa Safo – Aunt
2 hours