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At 34, Dieumerci Mbokani remains a very tough poison for the defenses of Jupiler Pro League. The Congolese Royal Antwerp is leading the scorers. And it is Anderlecht who regrets today to have rejected the attacker, considered too old a few months ago.
" For me, he is the best striker in Belgium, the most complete with experience ". Ilombe "Pele" Mboyo, former DRC international and ex-Belgian international (a selection with the Leopards and two selections with the Red Devils), did not go out of his way when he spoke about Dieumerci Mbokani , end of November at the microphone of the program Grand Débrief of the newspaper La Dernière Heure .
The international Congolese, still called early 2019 but absent from the last CAN in Egypt , makes a first half of the season exceptional with the Royal Antwerp. Still the author of a goal and two assists during the ride of his club on the lawn of Waaslan-Beveren on December 6 (4-0), Dieumerci Mbokani is untenable. He has already scored 18 goals and 9 assists in 24 games in all competitions.
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The regrets of Anderlecht, who did not want this striker judged too old
Recruited by the "Great Old" (nickname Royal Antwerp) during the summer of 2018, the Leopard had signed for a year. And before the start of the 2019-2020 season, it was Anderlecht's side that many thought he would continue his career. The "Mauves" tunic, Mbokani knows her well. He was a RSCA player in 2006-2007, then from 2011 to 2013, with some success.
However, there was no return to Anderlecht. The player was motivated. " I was ready to go, but for reasons that belong to them, they did not want me, " he said in the columns of the daily Le Soir early October. These famous reasons? The age of the player, who blew his 34th candle on November 22nd. Too old, it was estimated there.
Today, Anderlecht bites his fingers. The Mauves live a calvary season with this 11th place in the standings and this small total of 21 goals scored in 18 days. At the same time, Antwerp convinced Dieumerci Mbokani to come back and ranks 4th, while his striker topped the scoring charts with 14 goals. " Obviously today, we regret when we see that he scores a lot of goals and is not injured, " said Michael Verschueren, the sports director, RTBF .
Current Golden Bull ... and future Belgian Golden Shoe?
" Sometimes footballers are better with age. And Mbokani is still very good at his age. Age does not mean anything in football. Whether you are 19 or 35, the qualities are there. And for me, he is the best striker in Belgium, "added" Pele "Mboyo.
The numbers tend to prove him right. On November 2, in Mouscron, Dieumerci Mbokani scored his 100th goal in the Jupiler League, 12 years after his first with Anderlecht. " In football, it's not a question of age. We play with our head. It is the experience that is important. I could have served well in Anderlecht. I'm good ball, I can dribble and I can adapt to all systems, "commented the interested Het Laatste Nieuws mid-September.
The current Golden Bull (nickname given to the leading scorers in Belgium) has already matched his total goals last year. The former player of Almighty Mazembe, Standard Liege and Dynamo Kiev, who also passed more briefly - and with less success - by Ligue 1 with Monaco, the Bundesliga with Wolfsburg and the Premier League with Norwich and Hull City is so good now that he is already among the favorites at the Belgian Golden Boot, which rewards the best player in the Jupiler Pro League. This trophy, he has already won in 2012. It may seem far ... but with Godmerci Mbokani, the years count so little.