New FC Lupopo Coach Expected Next Week

Former Togo and Ethiopia coach Diego Garzitto is expected to be in Lubumbashi next week to formalize the take-over of DR Congo giants St.Eloi Lupopo.

Even as the Rail men president, Pascal Beveragi, declined to give more details a source at the club hinted that they have had talks with the tactician on phone and email.

The source that sought anonymity for fear of victimization told Ducor Sports that the Italy-born Frenchman will hold more talks with Lupopo officials before unveiling his structures for the team upon arrival.

“We are in the process of sending him (Garzitto) an air ticket, and we expect him in the country next week. He will take charge of the team soon after he arrives,” said the source.

The widely-travelled Garzitto replaces Franco-Algerian coach Mankour Boualem, who was sacked in March after a string of poor results.

Dutch coach Jan Olde Riekerink and former Ghana international Kwesi Appiah were both reportedly approached to take charge of the club but both turned it down.

Garzitto has previously managed in the French lower league and extensively across Africa.

Aside from short stints as manager of Togo and Ethiopia, Garzitto’s other coaching post was with TP Mazembe, Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca, Al-Hilal Omdurman and Algeria’s CS Constantine.

Garzitto has vowed to put his own imprint on St. Eloi Lupopo as the club seeks to reach the dizzy heights of the 1980s.

His major task will be to wrestle the title from 18-time winners TP Mazembe and represent the country in African Champions League.

The 70-year-old is remembered in DR Congo for taking Mazembe to the African Champions League title in 2009.