Ilombe Mboyo (born 22 April 1987) is a professional footballer who plays as a striker for Virton. Born in Zaire and raised in Belgium, Mboyo originally represented DR Congo internationally before switching to represent the Belgium national team.
 Mboyo with Genk in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 22 April 1987 | ||
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo (then Zaire) | ||
| Height | 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Virton | ||
| Number | 19 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1997–2001 | Anderlecht | ||
| 2001–2002 | Eendracht Aalst | ||
| 2002–2005 | Club Brugge | ||
| 2005–2008 | Charleroi | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2008–2010 | Charleroi | 40 | (3) |
| 2010–2011 | Kortrijk | 21 | (6) |
| 2011–2013 | Gent | 80 | (37) |
| 2013–2015 | Genk | 43 | (13) |
| 2015–2018 | Sion | 24 | (4) |
| 2017–2018 | → Cercle Brugge (loan) | 10 | (4) |
| 2018–2021 | Kortrijk | 66 | (23) |
| 2019 | → Al-Raed (loan) | 13 | (2) |
| 2021 | Sint-Truiden | 21 | (5) |
| 2021–2022 | Gent | 8 | (1) |
| 2022 | URSL Visé | 8 | (3) |
| 2023– | Virton | 13 | (3) |
| International career | |||
| 2011 | DR Congo | 1 | (0) |
| 2012 | Belgium | 2 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 15 June 2023 | |||
Club career
editBorn 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.[1][2][3][4] While in prison, Mboyo was scouted under an initiative started by Queen Paola of Belgium[5] and trained with Charleroi, joining the club after his release, signed by John Collins.[4] He joined Kortrijk on loan in May 2010; the deal was made permanent in September 2010[4] He moved to Gent in January 2011.[6]
He quickly became an important player for Gent and received the captain's armband.[4] However, two months later, 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.[7]
In August 2013, West Ham United pulled out of signing Mboyo after fans protested due to his conviction.[8]
On 3 February 2019, Al-Raed signed Mboyo for one season from Kortrijk.[9]
In January 2021, Mboyo joined fellow Belgian First Division A side Sint-Truiden on a permanent deal.[10]
On 31 August 2021, he returned to Gent on a two-year contract.[11]
International career
editIn August 2011 Mboyo played for the DR Congo national team in the 3–0 defeat against Gambia.[13] However, as this was a friendly game, he remained eligible for Belgium. 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.[2] 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.[14]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 16 May 2019[6]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sporting Charleroi | 2008–09 | Belgian First Division | 15 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 3 |
| 2009–10 | Belgian Pro League | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Total | 40 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 41 | 3 | ||
| Kortrijk | 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League | 21 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 6 |
| Gent | 2010–11 | Belgian Pro League | 12 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 |
| 2011–12 | Belgian Pro League | 32 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 14 | |
| 2012–13 | Belgian Pro League | 34 | 20 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 21 | |
| 2013–14 | Belgian Pro League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | |
| Total | 80 | 37 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 39 | ||
| Genk | 2013–14 | Belgian Pro League | 24 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4[a] | 0 | 29 | 5 |
| 2014–15 | Belgian Pro League | 19 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 8 | |
| Total | 43 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 45 | 13 | ||
| Sion | 2017–18 | Swiss Super League | 24 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 5 |
| Cercle Brugge (loan) | 2016–17 | Belgian First Division A | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 |
| Kortrijk | 2018–19 | Belgian First Division A | 20 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 7 |
| Al-Raed (loan) | 2018–19 | Saudi Professional League | 13 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| Career total | 251 | 76 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 270 | 79 | ||
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
References
edit- ^ Patrick Nathanson (24 September 2013). "Ilombe Mboyo: Prison, stardom and a terrible past". BBC Sport. Retrieved 25 September 2013.
- ^ a b 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.
- ^ a b c d John Chapman (10 October 2012). "Ilombe Mboyo's long road to an international call-up". When Saturday Comes. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
- ^ "Ilombe Mboyo: Charlton Athletic deny move for convicted rapist". BBC Sport. 13 May 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
- ^ a b Ilombe Mboyo at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
- ^ "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.[permanent dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Al-Raed is officially signed by Ilombe Mboyo
- ^ "ILOMBE MBOYO IS EEN KANARIE!" (in Dutch). Sint-Truidense V.V. 8 January 2021. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
- ^ "BIENVENUE PETIT PÉLÉ!" (in Dutch). Gent. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
- ^ "[TRANSFERT] : MBOYO" (in French). Virton. 26 December 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2023.
- ^ "Gambia vs. DR Congo (3:0)". National Football Teams.
- ^ Moffat, Colin (16 October 2012). "Belgium 2-0 Scotland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
External links
edit- Ilombe Mboyo at Soccerway
- Ilombe Mboyo at the Royal Belgian Football Association
