The global football community is mourning the passing of Roger Menama Lukaku, former Zaire international striker and father of Belgian stars Romelu and Jordan Lukaku.
Newsonspot gathered that he died on Sunday in his hometown of Kinshasa at the age of 58.
The news was confirmed by his son, Napoli forward Romelu Lukaku, who paid an emotional tribute on social media early Monday.
“Thank you for teaching me everything I know. I’m forever grateful and appreciate you. Life will never be the same,” Romelu wrote. “Protecting and guiding me like no one else could. I won’t be the same. The pain and tears are flowing big time. But God will give me the strength to get myself back together. Merci pour tout.”
Roger Lukaku had a respected career in the 1990s, playing mostly in Belgium for clubs such as FC Boom, Seraing, Germinal Ekeren, KV Mechelen, and KV Oostende, before moving to Turkey for a spell with Gençlerbirliği.
On the international stage, he earned 11 caps for Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and represented his nation at the African Cup of Nations in 1994 and 1996.
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Tributes have continued to pour in from fans, teammates, and the wider football world, celebrating his legacy both as a professional footballer and as the father of one of football’s most renowned families.
