Abu Dhabi: Becoming the first African Club to have reached the final of the Fifa Club World Cup is not enough; TP Mazembe's Engelbert of Congo now wants to be the first to win it in order to re-write what they claim are "unjust beliefs" about the African game.
Having knocked out Concacaf Champions Pachuca of Mexico 1-0 in the quarters and Copa Libertores winners SC Internacional of Brazil 2-0 in Tuesday night's semi-final, all eyes are now on the relative unknowns to continue their shock run with victory in Saturday's final.
Donning his peroxide Mohawk, Muloto Kabangu who flung an unstoppable half volley past Internacional's keeper Renan on 53 minutes, said after the game: "After this people will finally take us seriously and know that African football too, is capable of competing with the world's best - we will uphold African honour and will do our best in the final for all of Africa".
Dioko Kaluyituka, who got the second on 85 minutes with a nearside toe-poke between Renan and the post, added: "Europeans think African football is no good, but we are proving them wrong — we won't think about results we will just play well and go back with the trophy".
At odds
Even though they have only knocked out teams from Central and South America so far the players seemed most at odds with what they called European prejudices. "Europe minimizes us, they don't take us seriously but we'll prove them wrong in the final," said team captain Kazembe Miyaho.
"Last time (2009) we came here mostly on vacation to get used to the country, the people and the surroundings - this time we will go home with the trophy," Miyaho added.
Mazembe's coach Lamine N'Diaye said, "This is the beginning of a new page in the history of African football and I hope the continuity is just as beautiful."
