"I'm ready" – Lokonga set for first start? | OneFootball

Hamburg SV will have to do without playmaker Fábio Vieira in today's home game against Mainz 05. Albert Sambi Lokonga, who also came from FC Arsenal, could take his place.

So far, the midfielder, who has been plagued by many injuries in recent years, has only made two brief appearances. After more than a month with Hamburg, he now seems ready for more playing time. "I feel physically good. I've done everything to prepare myself, and now I'm ready for the next step to help my team on the pitch," Albert Sambi Lokonga emphasized in a conversation with the Abendblatt.

But not only the ball-confident Belgian could take Vieira's place alongside the duel and run-strong Nicolai Remberg. Coach Merlin Polzin has a tough choice to make. Nicolás Capaldo, who started the first three Bundesliga games, could move back into the starting line-up. Emir Sahiti or Immanuel Pherai, who both think as offensively as Vieira, are also considered candidates.

Hamburg SV: Lokonga is already integrated

Lokonga is not quite as offensive, but brings high footballing qualities. Not without reason did he move from Anderlecht to FC Arsenal in the summer of 2021 for a transfer fee of 17.5 million euros. "Elegant, beautiful, creative. I'm a player who likes to have the ball and likes to play with his teammates," the 25-year-old described his style of play.

He went on to say that he also has other skills that are of great importance to Hamburg SV: "I would say, I can offer both: I am a tactically skilled player and will do my best for the team, wherever the coach needs me." Lokonga seems to have fully arrived in the Hanseatic city. His multilingualism helps him. In addition to his mother tongue French, the right-footer also speaks English, Dutch and Spanish.

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He particularly enjoys interacting with the "French Connection" of Jean-Luc Dompé, Rayan Philippe, William Mikelbrencis and Aboubaka Soumahoro. "French is my mother tongue, so it's always easier to connect with people who speak the same language as me," Lokonga explained, who wants to make a lasting impression on the pitch against Mainz for the first time.

(Photo: Imago)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.