Brotherhood and Football: The Sambi Lokonga Untold Story

Albert Sambi Lokonga is one of those football names synonymous with a talent who you might have asked … what really happened to him after his Arsenal transfer? Even Mikel Arteta spoke about his intelligence and maturity, which he had in abundance at the age of 23 – when he joined the club. Well, away from all that, this article tells you about Albert Sambi Lokonga’s modest background and how he evolved as a professional footballer.

The Belgian professional footballer was born to his mother, Joseé Lokonga, and his father, Desiré Lokonga. in the beautiful town of Verviers, in the Belgian province of Liège. Sambi’s father is a Belgian air traffic controller. Before taking on this role, Désiré Lokonga worked for a bottled water company. Big Daddy Desiré Lokonga, as they call him, managed a mighty family made up of males. Paul-Jose M’Poku is Sambi’s oldest Sibling, someone who once multitasked between being a Big Brother or a Superhero. Before Sambi began his soccer education with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, his eldest brother (aged 16) had just been admitted into a big London club – Tottenham Hotspur Academy. Sadly, Paul-José M’Poku’s career with Spurs became a disaster.

Albert Sambi Lokonga’s story is centred around brotherhood and family love. Paul-Jose M’Poku, his big brother was the type who never allowed little Sambi, the family’s last born to wander in the dark alone. Congolese blood flows through his veins. Just in case you’re not aware, his Dad (Désiré Lokonga) once played football – way back in the DR Congo. Hence, it is not surprising to notice that his three sons (Albert, Fabrice, and Paul) are following in his footsteps. Now, let’s delve into the heart of Albert Sambi Lokonga’s story.

Preamble:

In essence, this memoir tells the complete story of a footballer who found success by learning from his brother’s mistakes and following his father’s guidance. Our biography of Albert Sambi Lokonga covers his childhood, early life, parents (Desiré and Joseé), family background, and his siblings (Paul-José and Fabrice).

Sambi’s journey begins with his early boyhood days and takes you through to his achievements in the world of football. To give you a glimpse into his captivating story, we’ve put together a gallery showcasing his early life and rise to fame. Witness the remarkable journey of Albert Sambi Lokonga and see how far he has come in his incredible life.

Without question, Sambi is a versatile footballer with excellent technical skills. He can solve midfield problems with his instincts/intelligence. Despite the accolades to his name, we realize that – only a few fans have read a concise piece of Lokonga’s Biography. Don’t worry; we are here – at your service. Now, without further ado, let us begin.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Childhood Story:

To kick off his biography, he’s known by the nickname “Mister Cool” and has the full name Albert-Mboyo Sambi Lokonga. The Belgian professional footballer was born on October 22, 1999.

Albert Sambi Lokonga was born to his mother, Joseé Lokonga, and his father, Desiré Lokonga, in the city of Brussels. Please note that this is the largest municipality and the capital of Belgium.

Sambi Lokonga came to the world as one among many children born out of the union between his parents.

Behold the two people who mean the world to him. Joseé (Sambi’s Mum) and Desiré Lokonga (Sambi’s Dad).

Early Life and Growing-Up Years:

Lokonga spent his childhood in his hometown of Verviers, located in the Belgian province of Liège, where he lived with his parents and siblings.

As a little boy, people perceived Sambi as someone with whom you would never have dull moments – all thanks to the teachings he received about family companionship.

Among all his siblings, he was particularly close to his brother Paul-José M’Poku, a professional footballer. Their bond was especially strong, with Paul-José being a significant influence in his life.

Paul-Jose M’Poku is Sambi’s oldest Sibling. In fact, he is multitasked between being a Big Brother or a Superhero.

Put simply, Paul-Jose M’Poku was the type who never allowed little Sambi to wander in the dark alone.

It’s widely accepted that making mistakes is a normal part of life. Paul-José M’Poku, the kind of brother who took responsibility for his own errors (which we’ll explore further in the biography), made sure his younger brother Sambi learned from those experiences as well.

Maybe you are not aware that Albert Sambi Lokonga also spent his boyhood moments with another of his brothers. He goes by the name Fabrice. We’ll tell you more about him later in our biography.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Background:

The Belgian footballer is from a middle-class home. Also, research shows that his Dad is a very versatile man.

We learned he did different jobs to feed his family. In fact, both of Lokonga’s parents are hardworking. Now let’s tell you about their jobs.

Sambi’s father is a Belgian air traffic controller. Before gaining this job, Désiré Lokonga worked for a bottled water company. Pictured below, Big Daddy manages a mighty family.

On the other hand, Albert Sambi Lokonga’s Mother (Joseé) is a career woman. She, alongside her husband, must be incredibly proud of their son’s achievements.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Origin:

Judging by his appearance, you can tell he has African roots. Just like Christopher Nkunku, Congolese blood flows through his veins. Albert Sambi Lokonga’s parents are of similar origin. They belong to the Afro-Belgian ethnicity – the same as Romeo Lavia.

Just in case you’re not aware, his Dad (Désiré Lokonga) once played football – way back in the DR Congo. Hence, it is not surprising to notice that his three sons (Albert, Fabrice, and Paul) are following in his footsteps.

Paul-José M’Poku, Sambi Lokonga’s older brother, was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where his parents and the entire family were living at the time.

We noticed that Sambi Lokonga’s brother (Paul-José M’Poku) was born in 1992, four years before the First Congo War.

Fabrice (his immediate elder brother) was born in 1995, a year before Congo’s civil war.

To safeguard the future of their children, Desiré and Joseé Lokonga joined the hundreds of households who migrated their families to Belgium – all because of the war.

Thankfully, Albert Sambi Lokonga’s mother (José) gave birth to him two years after the Congo War – also nicknamed Africa’s First World War.

Indeed, the decision made by Sambi’s parents saved their entire family.

Other European Footballers with Congolese Blood – his Brothers from Different Mums:

Just to keep you posted, Albert Sambi Lokonga shares similar family roots with these footballers.

Belgians in this category include Christian Benteke, Dedryck Boyata, Romelu Lukaku, Christian Kabasele, Michy Batshuayi, and Youri Tielemans.

From the non-Belgian side, we found the following names (European footballers) with Congolese heritage.

They include Kevin Mbabu, Claude Makélélé, Denis Zakaria, and an ex-Chelseman star, Jose Bosingwa.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Education and Career Buildup:

Reaching the compulsory school age, the football enthusiast got inducted into a learning system that suited his ilk.

Back then, he learned in the Pré-Javez neighbourhood; that’s really where he mastered playing football.

Before Sambi began his soccer education with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht, his eldest brother (aged 16) had just been admitted into a big London club – Tottenham Hotspur Academy.

Sadly, Paul-José M’Poku’s career with Spurs became a disaster.

For Sambi Lokonga’s parents, sending their 16-year-old son to England so soon was considered a serious mistake. Désiré and Joseé Lokonga promised themselves they wouldn’t repeat that error with their next footballing son.

Sambi took note of his brother Paul-José M’Poku’s challenges at Spurs and used them as a cautionary tale. While moving to England remained a goal, his parents were determined not to rush it.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Biography – Football Story:

Approaching the age of ten, the youngster (after so many games of street football) moved his childhood aspiration to the next level.

Following a successful trial, an excited Sambi (at age ten and in the year 2010) got enrolled with Anderlecht youth academy.

According to research, he was also eligible to join Standard Liège – an academy that has produced stars like his elder brother (Paul-José M’Poku) as well as Axel Witsel.

Surprisingly, he refused to join his sibling’s academy.

In an interview, Sambi explained why his parents chose not to have him join his brother’s club. He said:

“My dad decided not to put us in the same club to avoid unnecessary comparisons. Also, if my brother had issues with Standard Liège’s management, I could end up facing the consequences.”

Albert Sambi Lokonga Bio – The Road to Fame Story:

Similar to what Leander Dendoncker did, the young prodigy worked his way up through the Anderlecht ranks.

Thanks to his dedication and hard work, Sambi (pictured here) emerged as the most important player – for his age group.

Following academy graduation, the midfield prodigy immediately emerged as one of the key pillars of the Anderlecht first team. Lokonga saw himself converting from an advanced midfielder to a deep-lying and playmaking leader – for his team.

The role of Vincent Kompany:

Upon retiring from Man City, the Legend got a job with Royal Sporting Club Anderlecht – as a player-coach.

Vincent Kompany began having a vital role in Lokonga’s professional life – from the moment he got the managerial job.

One day, the Captain of Anderlecht – the person of Hendrik Van Crombrugge – got a long-term injury. Despite Lokonga’s age, Kompany chose him to lead the Belgian club.

Prior to the decision, everyone knew Sambi Lokonga – as not being that guy who gives big speeches in the dressing room.

Despite that personality, everyone wanted him to lead the squad- all thanks to his special qualities on the pitch.

Indeed, wearing the captain’s armband was an enormous honour. Lokonga, in no time, had his leadership first test as a captain of his club.

This happened when he sorted out an on-pitch noisy quarrel between two of his teammates – Lukas Nmecha (brother to Felix Nmecha) and Michel Vlapp.

The Rainbow Controversy that gave him Fame:

Sometimes, being a leader of your team also brings added scrutiny – something Lokonga has faced.

Once upon a time, he found himself at the centre of a controversy. Fans accused Sambi of disrespecting the league-issued rainbow armband.

As captain, Sambi Lokonga demonstrated a lack of support for the LGBTQ community by covering the rainbow captain’s armband with Anderlecht’s traditional white armband.

As expected, his actions brought anger from the League.

They summoned Lokonga to explain his actions – whether it was because of a superstitious belief or he did it on purpose – because of a dislike of LGBT.

To allow peace, Sambi promised to wear the rainbow armband in the following match.

The Arsenal Transfer:

Having the likes of Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos – all gone. Again, Lucas Torreira and Granit Xhaka are likely on their exit doors.

Even Joe Willock was going out of the door, and the GUNNERS BOSS – Mikel Arteta- had to act.

Noticing the controversy around Sambi, the Arsenal manager decided to explore the Belgian market during the summer transfer window.

Although he initially planned to bring Houssem Aouar to the Emirates, Arteta changed his mind when he was tempted by a deal for Lokonga. On July 19, 2021, the news that Arsenal had signed Albert Sambi Lokonga from Anderlecht made headlines.

Sambi joins the likes of Nuno Tavares, who also signed for the London big boys – around the summer of 2021. Also, he would be proud to have a solid partnership with Thomas Partey and Smith Rowe – a deadly midfield combo.

Without a doubt, the time was right for him to join the London club. Sambi Lokonga’s parents must have given him his blessings – also his elder brothers. Hence, there is a high possibility of success in the EPL.

Who he be successful at Arsenal?

Sambi could, one day, be as dominant in midfield, just like Yaya Toure and Kevin De Bruyne.

No doubt, if he receives some trust from the coach and the supporters, he will develop into a superstar.  In recent years, the Gunners’ recruitment policy has rightly come under scrutiny because of bad transfer decisions.

However, Lokonga’s signing might signal a shift for the better. The boy is a passer, a schemer, and a reader of the game. The rest, as we say, of Sambi’s Biography is now history.

Personal Life away from Soccer:

Away from everything football, who is Sambi? In this section, we’ll unveil more facts that would help you know him better.

First thing first, do you love animals? If yes, then you aren’t alone. Sambi is a huge animal lover. We noticed that during one of his visits to Saif Ahmad Belhasa, a Dubai billionaire and entrepreneur,

Behold one of Sambi’s animal love moments.

Away from football, you’re likely to find Sambi relaxing at the poolside. As usual, he does that to reduce stress and speed up recovery.

During this time, Sambi keeps all by himself – in the name of restoring his inner strength.

Whether on water or in the desert, the fun doesn’t stop for Sambi. The Belgian understands a dolphin’s behaviours and sure knows how to interact with the friendly aquatic mammal.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Lifestyle:

As research puts it, he isn’t someone who gets excessively proud of his fortunes. Again, Sambi is a man who dislikes giving self-satisfaction talk about his wealth.

Nevertheless, he knows how to spend his monies well – and that is evident in the cars we see around him.

In one of his inspirational videos that has a mixture of his personality and lifestyle, we spotted what looks like Sambi’s car. Truly, the Belgian is a man of class.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Family Life:

One hallmark of a close-knit family is their ability to support each other in times of need and always stand by one another. Sambi’s family is truly a circle of strength and love.

This section of our Biography will tell you more about his immediate and extended family (relatives). Without further ado, let’s begin.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Father:

In the Lokonga family, football all started with the head of the house. Sambi’s father, Désiré Lokonga, started his career as a professional footballer in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and has a deep understanding of the game.

However, when the First Congo War erupted, he had to prioritize the safety of his family over his football career. It was hard for Désiré to deal with retirement from football. As a result, he vowed to continue living his dreams through his three sons.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Mother:

Managing a home made up of male footballers ( both active and retired), including daughters, seems more like a herculean task.

Thankfully, Sambi’s Mum – Joseé Lokonga – sees it as manageable. Pictured below, she has come a long way. Joseé is the Mother everyone wishes they had.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Brothers:

The most popular of his siblings are Fabrice and Paul-José. Although not as socially active as the Pogba brothers, these men have their own unique style or swagger.

Fabrice – who is less popular – is the middle of the siblings. He is three years younger than Paul-José (his elder brother) and four years older than Albert – whom this Biography is all about.

Fabrice is the strongest of his brothers, while Albert himself is the tallest. He is also the widest – thanks to a claim that he did Taekwondo way back in his childhood.

This section of our Bio tells you more about Albert Sambi Lokonga’s brothers. Let’s start with Paul-José M’Poku – the eldest in the family.

About Paul-José Mpoku – Albert Sambi Lokonga Brother:

He was born in the city of Kinshasa Zaire (DR Congo) on the 19th day of April 1992. This makes him seven years older than his little brother – whom our Biography is all about.

Unlike Fabrice and Albert (his younger brothers), Paul-José bears the surname Mpoku.

Despite having his family nationalize in Belgium (and himself becoming a Belgian citizen), Paul decided to play football for his motherland – the DR Congo.

At the time of filling out this biography, he (a winger) had just signed up for the Turkish club Konyaspor.

Once upon a time, football witnessed – The rivalry of the sons of Joseé and Desiré. This was the period between 2017 and 2020 when Albert and Paul rivalled each other with Anderlecht and Standard Liège shirts.

They were blood brothers, but not under the same flag.

About Fabrice Sambi Lokonga:

Sometimes, we often ignore that there is a third brother. Like his elder brother (Paul-José Mpoku), Fabrice’s birth country is DR Congo.

Desiré and Joseé welcomed him on the 8th day of January 1995 – meaning he is four years older than Albert.

Fabrice, Like his elder and younger brother, is also a footballer – though not as successful as them. As I write this Bio, he plays as a Centre Forward for Erpeldange, a football club in Luxembourg.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Cousin:

Records from TransferMarket suggest his name as Eliézer Mpoku. He is Albert Sambi’s little cousin, a defensive midfield born in 2001.

Rather than leaving DR Congo to Belgium, Eliézer Mpoku settled in Switzerland – his birth country.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Sister-in-law:

She goes by the name Melissa. This beautiful lady is Paul-José M’Poku’s wife. Research has it that she – together with her husband loves to go on desert tours.

Melissa was pregnant for their son, Isaiah, during one of those holiday trips.

Melissa Mpoku is more than just a wife to her husband. During our research, we discovered that she also took on the role of a fitness trainer for him.

 Albert Sambi Lokonga Nephew:

His name is Isaiah M’Poku, and he is the son of Paul-José and Melissa. Isaiah is more than a nephew to Sambi.

Frequently, the footballer refers to him as his son. Likely, Isaiah would be the first person of his family’s third generation of footballers. Let’s not forget that Sambi’s Dad was a former footballer.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Relatives:

During his first visit to Congo – as a professional footballer, he got the chance to enjoy his parents’ hometown. Sambi met his extended family members for the first time – during the visit.

Information from the internet shows a lack of documentation about the identity of Sambi’s relatives. But one thing is sure, they form the grassroots of his supporters – back in Congo.

Albert Sambi Lokonga Facts:

Having journeyed with you throughout this Bio, we’ll wrap up by telling you more truth about the midfield prodigy. With little ado, let us begin.

About Sambi Lokonga Nicknames:

Sambi has long worn Danny Welbeck‘s nickname. This is because he had the same cut as the former Manchester United striker and Arsenal striker. If you are not aware, he also has Danny Welbeck’s old Arsenal number – 23.

Mind you, that is not his only nickname. His friends also call him Babert or Alberto – in reference to his first name – Albert.

Simbi got his first name from his Mother …. who could have done that better? Speaking about the reason for the name, the Baller said,

She told me they called a lot of kings like that.

Last but not least, fans nickname Simbi Mister Cool because he always looks relaxed.

Why he wears No. 48:

During his days with Anderlecht, Sambi wore the number 48 for a reason. That number is a sign of reference to his town’s postcode – NDLA: 4800.

For years, Sambi Lokonga’s family lived in Verviers, a town that made him successful.

Someday, on a beautiful Thursday evening, Simbi was honoured by his hometown, Verviers, where he received the prestigious Jean Voisin trophy. This is a town that never forgets her heroes.

Sambi Lokonga’s Religion:

Like many footballers with Congolese African roots, Lokonga is very religious. He believes in the Christian faith and doesn’t have issues about raising their hands to signal – as a sign of praise to God.

Sambi Lokonga FIFA Facts:

Truth be told, Sambi is a complete footballer – a man who is a jack of all trades. The only area where Sambi lacks (below average) is taking penalties. His elder brother Paul-José M’Poku, also possesses a similar quality. His all-round FIFA stats are quite similar to those of Bruno Guimaraes and Lucas Paqueta, which reveals signs of an intelligent footballer.

EndNote:

Albert Sambi Lokonga comes from a family passionate about football. His father, Désiré Lokonga, was a former footballer who played in the Democratic Republic of the Congo before the outbreak of the First Congo War.

While having a much-improved life in Belgium, Joseé (Sambi’s Mum) and Desiré (his Dad) gave birth to him. It was hard for Desiré to deal with retirement, so he ensured that Sambi and his brother lived the family dreams.

Paul-José M’Poku (Sambi’s eldest brother) ensured he learned life values. Among his siblings (including Fabrice – his immediate younger), he was the one who led by example – thus creating a picture of what is possible.

This didn’t come without Paul making career mistakes and ensuring his brothers view his mistakes as a learning ground.

Today, Sambi is glad – that he has made the right choice. His success would never be possible without help from his parents and big brothers. Despite Arsenal’s true feelings being felt in the club’s decision to send Lokonga out on multiple loan moves, as of 2024, it doesn’t change the fact that he is a talented player who deserves a place at the London club.

Appreciation Note:

Thank you for staying with us while reading Albert Sambi Lokonga’s biography. We deliver football stories about Belgian Footballers  – with fairness and accuracy.

Aside from Sambi Lokonga’s Bio, we got other great Belgian football stories worth reading. Surely, the memoirs of these footballers – Leandro Trossard, midfield maestro Dennis Praet and Adnan Januzaj would interest you.

We deliver football stories about Belgian Footballers  – with fairness and accuracy. Please reach out to us – if you notice anything that doesn’t look right.