By SANDRA MWILA –
TP Mazembe defender Kabaso Chongo’s nasty tackle on Drame Michailou of Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel during the CAF Super Cup final has been slammed by various international media.
Chongo made a tackle after Michailou attempted to lobby the ball over him as the Zambian went in with his studs high landing on the Tunisian’s private parts and was given a yellow card, a decision that did not go down well with various media who wanted stiffer punishment.
The incident happened in the 74th minute with Mazembe already leading 2-1 in Saturday’s final played in Lubumbashi. The video has since gone viral and is on YouTube and other media.
‘Zambian player commits shocking tackle and gets away with it’ was the screaming headline for Foxsportsnews.
“Footballers do the darnedest things. From Roy Keane to Nigel de Jong, we’ve seen some of the most renowned players vilified for making shock tackles and career-altering decisions. Gentlemen, you have company.
“Saturday’s CAF Super Cup final (Africa’s continental equivalent of the UEFA Super Cup) saw Congolese giants TP Mazembe run out 2-1 winners over Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, but Chongo made the sort of studs-up challenge that would have seen one sent off within seconds in a Sunday league,” Foxsports reported.
‘Zambian footballer flies in with one of the most brutal tackles ever, only gets a yellow’ was the headline for the Mirror of the United Kingdom.
“If you’ve ever played Sunday League football on a regular basis, you’ll have witnessed plenty of rudimentary tackles in your time.
Amateur players tend to have a heady mix of enthusiasm and uncontrolled clumsiness. Add a wet and muddy pitch to that equation, and soon enough you’ll see some seriously nasty reducers flying in.
However, the professional players contesting the CAF Super Cup (Africa’s answer to the UEFA Super Cup ) have no excuse for dangerous challenges. That’s what makes this foul from Kabaso Chongo so mind-boggling – it’s honestly one of the most brutal tackles we’ve ever seen.
In last weekend’s final between Congolese giants TP Mazembe and Tunisian side Etoile du Sahel, the young defender challenged Drame Michailou for a ball in the midfield.
Unfortunately, Chongo put in the sort of tackle that would have you sent off by a Sunday League referee within seconds – with his leg rigid and incredibly high, he speared his opponent in the tatty bojangles at high speed.
Amazingly, the referee only deigned to show Chongo the yellow card. Mazembe went on to win 2-1, much to their opponents’ charging,” the Mirror reported.
‘One of the worst challenges you will ever see’ was the headline on 101greatgoals.com