TP Mazembe : The Light of Lubumbashi

Tout Puissant Mazembe or TP Mazembe as the club is famously known, has a contrasting and unique footballing history. The club is known as the Ravens, even though their logo is famous for having a crocodile with a ball in its mouth, this well-known football club from Congo has a very unique beginning. It was started in 1939 in Lubumbashi by the missionaries who saw it wise to form a football club for their students who were so much dedicated to scouting activities. Little did these missionaries know that some decades later; TP Mazembe would go on to become one of the most respected clubs not only in Congo, but also in Africa.

Formerly known as F.C Englebert, a name derived from the Tyre Company that sponsored the club, early exploits both on and off the field led to the change of name to TP Mazembe. This coincided with some of the club's remarkable years when they won some of the major trophies in the club's history. These years of success kicked off in 1966 when the club won a hat trick of major national trophies including the national championship, Congo cup and Katanga cup. This achievement was subsequently followed by success at the continental level when the team won two African champions league cups, as well as reaching another two finals. It was this feat that catapulted TP Mazembe to world recognition and is known as the only African club to have defended its African cup title in the final.

Years of Anonymity

After this glorious four year period, TP Mazembe went into anonymity for the next decade, a period, which was punctuated by financial difficulties, internal wrangling within the club's hierarchy and to a bigger extent, the civil war that brought the naturally rich country of Congo to its knees. Despite all these enormous challenges, the club showed glimpses of its former glory in the 80s by winning the Cup winners cup. Again after almost four decades of absence at the continental stage, TP Mazembe recaptured its former glory by winning the African Champions League, which gave the club a ticket to the FIFA club world cup, held in Abu Dhabi in 2009. As the representatives from Africa, TP Mazembe became the first Sub Saharan club to participate in the competition, but finished in position six in a competition won by the greatest Barcelona side of all time.

A club known for its natural stubbornness and resilience, TP Mazembe triumphed at the continental stage by winning it's fourth African champions league at the backdrop of many odds, challenges and poor start. This triumph led to another appearance at the FIFA club world cup in 2010. Not held back with the previous tournament’s failure, the Lubumbashi club did what no any other African club had done and perhaps, would not do in the near future. To the amazement of every football-loving fan on the planet, TP Mazembe became the only African club to reach the final where they were narrowly beaten by Inter Milan, which had some of the game's biggest names at the time including Cameroon legend Samuel Eto'o.

Without a doubt, the appearance at the final of the FIFA club world cup was a positive sign of many things to come for the greatest club in Congo's football, TP Mazembe.