Lomana LuaLua
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| Lomana Lualua | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lomana Tresor Lualua | |
| Date of birth | December 28, 1980 (age 26) | |
| Place of birth | Kinshasa, DR Congo | |
| Height | 1.73m | |
| Nickname | Lulu, The Little Treasure | |
| Playing position | Striker, Winger | |
| Club information | ||
| Current club | Portsmouth | |
| Number | 32 | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1998-2000 2000-2004 2004- |
Colchester United Newcastle United Portsmouth |
61 (15) 59 (5) 79 (19) |
| National team2 | ||
| 2002- | DR Congo | 6 (1) |
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Lomana Tresor LuaLua (born December 28, 1980 in Kinshasa) is a football (soccer) player from the Democratic Republic of Congo. He currently plays in England for Portsmouth F.C.
LuaLua began his career with Colchester United F.C. in the 1998/99 season. He went on to score 15 goals in just 37 League starts for the club. After two seasons at the club, his stunning performances attracted the attention of several Premiership clubs, and Newcastle United F.C. swooped to sign him for the 2000/01 season at a cost of £2.5 million.
LuaLua took some time to settle for his new club after netting twice in the club's Intertoto Cup campaign. His first Premiership goals would not come until April 2002, but he then quickly rediscovered his form.
He opened his account in a 3-2 victory at Derby County - LuaLua would score the injury time winner - and finished the season with three goals in five games. His performances for the club earned him a regular place in the Democratic Republic of Congo national team, and he was made captain for the 2004 African Nations Cup. However in the match against the hosts Tunisia he was sent off. His country went on to lose and were eliminated.
On his return, the competition for a first team place meant he joined Portsmouth on loan for the second half of the season. LuaLua scored on his Pompey debut against Tottenham Hotspur F.C., and then in his third game scored an 89th minute equaliser against parent club Newcastle at Fratton Park.
The player scored four goals in ten starts for Pompey as they finished 13th in their debut season in the Premiership. Manager Harry Redknapp was impressed enough with LuaLua's performances that when his loan spell ended following the 2003/04 season he signed him permanently at a cost of £1.7 million.
LuaLua enjoyed some successes in the 04/05 season too, scoring twice in 25 minutes against bitter rivals, Southampton. During the 05/06 season, he led the club in league goals with 7, but missed several games due to African Nations Cup duty. He was also out of action for several weeks in the autumn when he was confined to a hospital isolation unit with malaria after admitting not taking tablets to protect himself. The club struggled to score goals when he was unavailable.
LuaLua has perhaps the most spectacular goal celebration in today's game; upon scoring, he invariably performs a string of back handsprings ending in a backflip. After scoring the equaliser for Portsmouth in their home match against Arsenal towards the end of the 05/06 season, LuaLua had to be taken off the pitch after injuring his ankle doing his trademark backflips[1].
Despite his obvious ability and technique, he is frequently criticised for being greedy and wasting chances, plus a below-average goalscoring record. His unreliability - such as the aforementioned malaria farce, the three times he has injured himself celebrating goals and missing five matches for a headbutt - has also led to further questioning of his place in the team.
LuaLua's baby son Jesus died of pneumonia on January 20th 2006 while he was away on African Nations Cup duty.[2] [3] To The Wide disgust of the rest of the world, he was not told of his son's tragedy as his coach was afraid of him returning home early from the African Nations Cup
On 28 July 2006 he and fellow Portsmouth player Richard Hughes pledged their futures at the club, signing three year contracts each.[4]
His younger cousin Kazenga LuaLua is at the academy of his former club Newcastle United.
[edit] References
- ^ Injury during goal celebration. BBC Sport, Premiership Football. Retrieved on April 13, 2006.
- ^ Death of Lua son 'hidden'
- ^ LuaLua vows to fight on
- ^ Lua Lua signs new Portsmouth deal
[edit] External links
| Portsmouth F.C. - Current Squad |
|---|
|
1 James | 2 Primus | 3 Stefanović | 4 Johnson | 5 O'Brien | 6 Traoré | 9 Todorov | 10 Lauren | 11 Pamarot | 14 Taylor | 15 Ashdown | 19 Kranjčar | 21 Songo'o | 22 Hughes | 23 Campbell | 25 Benjani | 26 O'Neil | 27 Kanu | 28 Davis | 29 Douala | 30 Pedro Mendes | 32 LuaLua | 34 Mvuemba | 35 Jordan | Manager: Redknapp |
