It鈥檚 been an interesting journey for B.C. Lions linebacker Bo Lokombo.
Not only in football but in life.
From being born in Africa to starring in the CFL, Lokombo鈥檚 tale is an interesting one and as his football career winds down, the 33-year-old would love to win a Grey Cup championship in front of friends and family in Vancouver.
A Grey Cup is something that has eluded Lokombo during his 10-year CFL career and winning it home would be special.
鈥淚t would be the icing on the cake 鈥� the cherry on top. I鈥檝e been with the team for a very long time. Most of my career has been with the Lions. I know about the tradition and history. I鈥檓 a hometown kid who has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into it. I was drafted by and grew up with this organization. It would mean everything,鈥� said Lokombo.
If the Lions are fortunate enough to play on Nov. 17 at BC Place, it wouldn鈥檛 be the first time Lokombo has played for a championship.
As a freshman at the University of Oregon, Lokombo played in the 2011 BCS Championship game 鈥� a game in which the Ducks lost in heartbreaking fashion losing 22-19 to Auburn on a walk-off field goal.
It鈥檚 a loss that stings to this day.
鈥淭hat was an opportunity lost. We have never won a championship at Oregon and that year we had such a great team. It would have been the year to do it and we came close. I was the only Canadian on the team at the time and for a smalltown kid to go to a big-time school and win the Natty would have been special,鈥� recalled Lokombo.
As his career winds down, Lokombo has seen his role reduced with the Lions. He mainly plays in the 鈥淛oker鈥� package on defence as a linebacker on passing downs.
Individual accolades and playing time don鈥檛 matter as much any more.
It鈥檚 about finishing his playing days with something that has eluded him during his football career 鈥� a championship.
鈥淗onestly, that鈥檚 the only thing that鈥檚 left. It鈥檚 that ring at the end of the year. I鈥檝e never been close to a Grey Cup. You think with a 10-year career, I鈥檇 have played in it at least once or twice. I鈥檝e never played in it. It would be amazing. I鈥檓 hoping this is the year,鈥� said Lokombo, who won the CFL鈥檚 Most Outstanding Canadian Player Award in 2021.
As far as the other journey goes, that is the journey of life, Lokombo鈥檚 story is pretty amazing.
Born in Kinshasa, Zaire in 1990, Lokombo and his family emigrated to Montreal when he was six. From there they moved to Abbotsford, where Lokombo started playing football and was a star at Mouat High School.
Growing up, Lokombo gravitated towards football through his older brother Boloy.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know anything about football until I was 12. I started watching and supporting my older brother when he played. I was curious so I decided to try it. I liked the game but had no understanding of it. I didn鈥檛 know what a tight end was or a guard. I had to start from scratch,鈥� laughed Lokombo.
Another reason for getting involved was the social aspect of the game.
鈥淚 fell in love with the camaraderie of it. I was going to a new school and wanted to make friends and I felt that sports were a good way to do it,鈥� said Lokombo, who started playing at the age of 14 at Chief Dan George Middle School in Abbotsford.
He started to tap into his raw athletic ability and people started taking notice, so much so that he moved to Eugene, Oregon for his final year of high school in an effort to get better competition, coaching and more exposure.
That move resulted in Lokombo earning a scholarship to the University of Oregon.
He started his CFL career with the Lions in 2014 and spent three seasons in B.C. before giving the NFL a try in 2017. His NFL odyssey included practice roster stints with Baltimore, Oakland and San Francisco before returning to B.C. in 2018. He spent 2019 with the Montreal Alouettes before returning to the Lions in 2021.
This past March, Lokombo fulfilled a life-long goal by going back to Africa as part of a CFL contingent that visited Kenya with World Vision Canada, a foundation that helps children in impoverished countries.
It gave Lokombo a different perspective on life.
鈥淚 learned not to take things for granted. It taught me to be present in the moment whether it鈥檚 football or just time with my kids. There are people living in much tougher situations and harsher circumstances than us. To see that with my own two eyes made me put things into perspective. It made me slow things down and try not to rush from one thing to another. I told myself when it came to football this year, no matter what happens, enjoy it. Just take everything with a grain of salt and be thankful,鈥� said Lokombo, who resides in Abbotsford with his partner Terin and their two boys aged five and three.
With his career winding down, Lokombo has already started to prepare for life after football as a personal trainer in the off-season.
鈥淚 want to continue to help people with strength training. I also run speed and agility programs. I鈥檇 like to do that on a full-time basis. I would be open to coaching at the college level and eventually in the pros. And more importantly, I want to continue to be a great father and help guide my boys in their life, in sports and everything else,鈥� said Lokombo, who also added that there will be some travelling as well once football is over.
All of that, however, will have to wait
For now, the Lokombo and the Lions have one goal in mind.
The Grey Cup.
Veteran B.C. sports personality Bob 鈥渢he Moj鈥� Marjanovich writes twice weekly for Black Press Media.
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