Former TP Mazembe leftback Joseph Ochaya has come out to give a piece of advice to the reigning Uganda Premier League champions, Vipers SC in their upcoming game against DR Congo side TP Mazembe.
The Venoms are slated to take on the CAF Champions League 5 time winners in October.
The first leg will be played at St Mary’s stadium in Kitende on the 8th of October while the second leg will go down at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi a week later.
Vipers are clearly the underdogs in this competition as they have never played in the CAF Champions League in the 6 times they have participated in it.
They will be hoping to meet luck this time round and Ochaya believes their key to getting past TP Mazembe is one and this is belief.
According to Ochaya, Robertinho and his troops have to come believing that they can get past the Congolese side.
Besides TP Mazembe is no longer a force to reckon on the Continent like it was a few years ago.
“Vipers can, if they believe in themselves,” Ochaya told Football256 before adding.
“They just have to come with the right mentality and attitude because that is the only way to overcome intimidation in such competitions.”
“Mazembe used to be strong, but not anymore, they are weakened in so many areas and the playing staff has been affected greatly,” Ochaya added.
“That is because of their history in the competition, but you can’t say they are at the same level with teams like Sundowns, Al Ahly, Zamalek or even Simba and Yanga in Tanzania, Ochaya noted.
Meanwhile Joseph Ochaya who has been playing for TP Mazembe since 2018 up to 2022 left the club for Egyptian side, Arab Contractors.