Ilombe Mboyo
 Mboyo with Genk in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 April 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Sion | ||
| Number | 9 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Anderlecht | |||
| Club Brugge | |||
| Charleroi | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Charleroi | 41 | (3) |
| 2010 | → Kortrijk (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Kortrijk | 23 | (6) |
| 2011–2013 | Gent | 87 | (39) |
| 2013–2015 | Genk | 49 | (13) |
| 2015— | Sion | 0 | (0) |
| National team | |||
| 2012– | Belgium | 2 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20:16, 12 August 2013 (UTC). | |||
Ilombe Mboyo (born 22 April 1987) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays for Sion, as a striker.[1]
Club career
Born in Kinshasa, DR Congo, Mboyo played youth football for Anderlecht and Club Brugge, before going to prison when he was 17 for his part in a gang rape of a 14-year-old girl in 2004. Mboyo was a member of one of the most notorious street gangs in Belgium.[2][3][4][5] While in prison, Mboyo was scouted under an initiative started by Queen Paola of Belgium [6] and trained with Charleroi, joining the club after his release, signed by John Collins.[5] He joined Kortrijk on loan in May 2010; the deal was made permanent in September 2010[5] He moved to Gent in January 2011.[7]
He quickly became an important player for Gent and received the captain's armband.[5] Two months later, however, in a game against Waasland-Beveren, Mboyo missed a carelessly taken penalty and provoked his own supporters after being booed. The club forced him to apologize for his behaviour and youngster Hannes van der Bruggen became the new captain.[8]
In August 2013, West Ham United pulled out of signing Mboyo after fans protested due to his conviction.[9]
International career
In October 2012, Mboyo was called up to the senior Belgium national team. Due to his conviction, the selection was controversial. Assistant manager Vital Borkelmans said that he deserved a second chance, while François De Keersmaecker, President of the Royal Belgian Football Association, said that his presence could set a good example.[3] He made his debut on the 16th in a 2–0 win over Scotland in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, replacing Christian Benteke for the final four minutes at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels.[10]
References
- ↑ "Profile" (in Dutch). Voetbal International.
- ↑ Patrick Nathanson (24 September 2013). "Ilombe Mboyo: Prison, stardom and a terrible past". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- 1 2 Gavin Berry (12 October 2012). "Belgians defiant over rapist inclusion in their squad against Scotland". Daily Record and Sunday Mail.
- ↑ Paul Doyle and James Riach (12 October 2012). "World Cup qualifiers: 10 things to look forward to this weekend". Guardian News Group PLC.
- 1 2 3 4 John Chapman (10 October 2012). "Ilombe Mboyo's long road to an international call-up". When Saturday Comes.
- ↑ "Ilombe Mboyo: Charlton Athletic deny move for convicted rapist". BBC Sport. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ Ilombe Mboyo profile at Soccerway
- ↑ "Ilombe Mboyo excuseert zich bij fans AA Gent en levert aanvoerdersband in" [Mboyo apologizes towards fans of AA Gent and dismisses captain's armband] (in Dutch). Sport/Voetbalmagazine. 10 December 2012.
- ↑ Lewis, Darren (5 August 2013). "West Ham abandon transfer interest in striker Ilombe Mboyo as rape conviction sparks fan protests". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ↑ Moffat, Colin (16 October 2012). "Belgium 2-0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.