Skip to main content
BBC SPORT / AFRICAN
Graphics Version | BBC News Home
Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

12:05 GMT, Sunday, 8 November 2009

Mputu ready for move to Europe

By Steve Vickers
BBC Sport, Lubumbashi

TP Mazembe captain Tresor Mputu Mabi (right) and coach Diego Garzitto with the Champions League trophy

TP Mazembe captain Tresor Mputu Mabi says that he is now ready to move to one of Europe's top leagues.

He led the Congolese side to victory in the African Champions League on Saturday, as they beat Nigerian club Heartland on away goals.

The attacking midfielder is one of the most highly-rated and best-paid players on the continent.

"I promised the team that I wouldn't leave before winning a cup, and now I've managed to do this," Mputu said.

Over the past two years, he has been linked with a large number of top European sides, but has chosen to stay with Mazembe until now.

"Now that I have delivered the cup to the president of TP Mazembe, for sure I'm free to move now, because I've accomplished my mission," he said.

Club president and sponsor Moise Katumbi, the governor of Katanga province, had made it clear that he would be happy for Mputu to leave if the team became African champions.

In 2007 Mputu was top scorer in both the Champions League and Confederation Cup.

This year the 23-year-old took the player of the tournament award as he led DR Congo to victory at the African Nations Championship.

His contribution was a key factor in Mazembe's Champions League success, but he was quick to not take all the credit for himself.

"We've got a good coach (Frenchman Diego Garzitto) who's helped us to change, and we've got a good club president who's always helping the team," he said.

"Those are the two main things that have helped TP Mazembe to go to the top of African football."




E-mail this to a friend
Related to this story:

Mazembe clinch Champs Lge title (07 Nov 09 |  African )
2009 Champions League statistics (19 Sep 09 |  African )
Mazembe confident of victory (06 Nov 09 |  African )
Heartland edge to narrow victory (01 Nov 09 |  African )
Heartland, Mazembe on course (04 Oct 09 |  African )
TP Mazembe look to CHAN winners (13 Mar 09 |  African )

RELATED INTERNET LINKS:
Heartland FC
TP Mazembe
BBC Fast Track - at the heart of African sport
Caf
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites



SEARCH BBC SPORT: 

Sport Homepage | Football | Formula 1 | Olympics | Cricket | Rugby Union | Rugby League | Tennis | Golf | Athletics | Cycling | Motorsport | Boxing | Snooker | Horse Racing | Disability Sport | Other sport... | Sports Personality | TV/Radio Schedule | Sport Academy | Fun and Games | Inside Sport | Northern Ireland | Scotland | Wales
Football Contents:  My Club | Gossip | Premier League | Championship | League One | League Two | Non League | FA Cup | League Cup | Scottish Premier | Scottish League | Scottish Cups | Welsh | Irish | Internationals | Europe | African Women | Football Focus | Match of the Day | Final Score | World Football | Skills | Laws & Equipment | Get Involved | Your Game

^ Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage | Feedback | Help | ©