Relieved Asante makes injury return for TP Mazembe

Black Stars diminutive midfielder Solomon Asante made his long awaited injury return for TP Mazembe in a heavy 4-0 mauling of US Tshinkunku on Sunday.

The former Berekum Chelsea trickery forward spanned the full throttle of the game and provided an assist for the reigning African Club Champions.

Asante defied his long spell on the treatment table with classy displays for the Congolese giants in a fully packed Lubumbashi stadium.

The Ghana international missed the latter stages of 2015 due to a recurrent injury that forced him to miss out on the Clubs World Cup.

Asante capped his impressive return for Mois katumbe Chapwe’s charges with a delicate assist for his side’s second goal in a 4-0 demolition exercise in front of their vociferous fans.

Compatriot Gladson Awako came off the bench to register the third goal of the game whiles Richard Kissi Boateng failed to leave the bench for the reigning champions.

“I feel better now with no pains and had a very good game too.” Asante said after the match.

The midfielder was reportedly closed to a mega deal to the Asian continent in the winter transfer window.

Relieved Asante makes injury return for TP Mazembe

Disappointed: Kidiaba "Hurt" To Have Missed African Player Of The Year Crown

It’s Always Hard For A Keeper… TP Mazembe Keeper

Congo and TP Mazembe number 1 goalie, Robert Kidiaba was tipped as favourite to win the African based GLO/CAF award after leading his club side to African glory annexing the ttile as CAF African champions league winners.

 

The 39 – year old lost to the award to club colleague, Mbwana Aly Samata, with the Tanzanian international accumulating more points (votes) than his club goalie at the annual GLO/CAF award gala was held in Abuja, Lagos to celebrate African footballers.

 

Kidiaba who has made 61 national appearances for Congo said, “It is always hard for a keeper to win the CAF African player of the year award. I’m disappointed not to have won but very proud and satisfied because my team (TP Mazembe) won the CAF champions league and that’s all that matter”.

 

The 5-ft 11-in goal keeper played all two games for TP Mazembe during the FIFA world championship 2015 in Japan (which Mazembe lost all games) and also played all five games for TP Mazembe in the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup.

Disappointed: Kidiaba "Hurt" To Have Missed African Player Of The Year Crown

Ruthless Bwana Samatta lands lucrative Genk switch

Tanzania international and TP Mazembe forward Bwana Ally Samatta has been rewarded with a lucrative offer from Belgian side RKC Genk.

The reigning top scorer in the 2015 CAF Champions league single handedly dragged his Congolese giants to a fifth continental glory with his eight impressive goals.

The 23 year old forward has been tipped to emulate the feat of Trezor Mputu Mabizela with Mois Katumpe Chapwre’s side but the financial muscle of Genk might be too seductive for the young attacker to reject. This will come as further set back for TP Mazembe as Solomon Asante nears the exit door as well.

Samatta stormed the 2015 CAF Champions league in a ruthless manner highlighted by his man of the match performances in both legs of the final showdown with USM Algiers.

The Tanzania international inspired his colleagues to hammer their spirited Algerian side in a 4-1 landslide win on aggregate.

The predatory instincts of Samatta will come handy for the mid table side as they look to seal an European slot at the end of the season.

TP Mazembe fended off competition from North African giants to cling onto their prized asset but move to Belgium now looks imminent.

He will be tasked with overturning the ailing fortunes of the Belgium side in a dreadful start to the season.

The exit of the club’s goal machine look set to open the door for the possible arrival of Berekum Chelsea Owusu amidst contractual differences. The 2015 FCPPL top scorer racked in 19 goals to confirm his attacking prowess on the continent.

Ruthless Bwana Samatta lands lucrative Genk switch