Olympic Games: Lukeba, "We're here to go all the way"
Other Competitions
As the Olympic Games get underway, excitement is fervently building for athletes and fans alike. For RB Leipzig's Castello Lukeba, former OL defender and leader of France's Olympic football team's defence, the stakes are high, and the dreams are golden. With aspirations of clinching the top spot on the podium, Lukeba is focused and ready to face the challenges that lie ahead, with France facing New Zealand this evening.
“We all have that goal here, to go all the way, but it's not enough just to say it,” Lukeba said with determination. "It's truly symbolic—this is the competition that unites all sports and countries worldwide, and it's an honour to be part of it. I remember watching Usain Bolt on TV as a kid. He ruled the sprint for so long. My friends and I used to race and pretend to be him. At the last Olympics, I followed Brazil a lot too, because of Bruno Guimaraes, who played with me at Lyon."
While football is Lukeba's primary focus, he is equally passionate about following other Olympic sports, particularly basketball and judo, which he practised before fully committing to football. "Of course! I'll be watching basketball, and the United States has brought a very strong team, but I believe France has a good chance. I'll also be following judo closely since I used to do it when I was younger, before starting football."
Reuniting with Lacazette: A Familiar Face
Lukeba is thrilled to reunite with Alexandre Lacazette, his former Lyon teammate, who brings leadership and experience to the squad. Having grown up idolising Lacazette, Lukeba has learned a great deal from him, both as a player and as a person. "We all know him: he's a leader on and off the field. We have a strong bond; he's like a big brother to me. I went through different phases with him: as a kid in pre-formation, I was his fan, a boy who admired him."
"Later, I became his teammate, and he taught me so much. He's also a great jokester, but that's good because he brings positivity to the whole group," added Lukeba. "He's an extremely talented forward who can only help us. We're very happy to have him and know we'll need him, especially during tougher times. When you see what he's done in the last two seasons at OL... he lifts everyone around him."
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