Napoli striker and Belgian international Romelu Lukaku has expressed deep heartbreak after he and his younger brother Jordan Lukaku were denied permission to repatriate the body of their late father, Roger Lukaku, for burial in Belgium.
Roger Lukaku, 58, a former professional footballer who once represented Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo), passed away in Kinshasa late last month. His sons had planned to fly his remains to Belgium, where he lived for many years, but some relatives in Congo opposed the move, insisting that he be buried in his homeland.
In an emotional post on Instagram, Romelu Lukaku wrote:
“Our father passed away on September 28, and we tried everything to bring his body to Europe, but we were blocked by certain people.
If our father were alive today, he would never have agreed to this. It breaks our hearts that we cannot lay him to rest as planned, but our relatives refused.”
He added:
“Now we understand why our father kept us away from many people.”
Roger Lukaku, who played as a professional footballer in Belgium’s First Division before retiring, spent years in Europe before returning to Congo, where he passed away.
This tragic situation has sparked discussions about cultural and familial tensions that often arise in families split between Africa and Europe, particularly when it comes to funeral traditions and burial rights.
✍️ Author: Mangwa
📖 Read more: MecaMediaAfrica.com
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