TP Mazembe confirm interest in Mahatma

DR Congo giants TP Mazembe have entered the fray in the race to sign Hearts of Oak striker Mahatma Otoo.

The Congolese giants have signed five Ghanaians within the past year and are looking to grow their Ghanaian contingent at the club with the signing of the in-form Ghana striker.

The four-time African champions will however slug it out with clubs in South Africa and Europe reportedly interested in signing Otoo who won the goal king award of the just ended Ghana Premier League season after scoring 20 goals.

Mazembe will be counting on their superior financial muscle provided for by their billionaire owner Moise Katumbi to price away the 21-year-old who has signed a one-year extension at Hearts.

There are already talks of a mouthwatering $20,000 a month salary offered to Otoo by TP Mazembe but the club’s West African representative Nana Oduro Sarfo in confirming the club’s interest in the yet-to-be-capped Ghana international says figures being thrown around are mere speculation.

“As at when Ghana was playing Sudan (in the 2014 World Cup qualifier) there was a letter waiting to be forwarded to Hearts of Oak over the signing of Mahatma Otoo,” he told Accra-based Asempa FM.

“Mazembe have been following him for some time now and we want him.

“I don’t determine how much players get (in salary and bonuses) it is only if he meets the President Moise Katumbi that these negotiations will be thrashed out.

“The figures you are hearing are only speculations.”

TP Mazembe already have Ghanaians; Daniel Nii Adjei, Gladson Awako, Solomon Asante, Richard Kissi-Boateng and Yaw Frimpong in their fold.

The team is currently camping in Ghana ahead of their CAF Confederations Cup Group B opener against ES Setif in Algeria.

This is due to the completion of their domestic league championship.

The DR Congo giants recently contested in a four-club tournament organized by the Ghana League Clubs Association to honour the sitting President of the Republic; John Mahama.