BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY Heritier "Harry" Lumumba (born 15 November 1986) is a professional Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Until December 2013 he was known as Harry O'Brien, before he chose to revert to the name of his biological father.[1]
The 187 cm Lumumba, who has played most of his football as a medium defender, has the distinction of being the first Brazilian-born player in the Australian Football League.[2] He was picked up with pick 21 in the 2004 AFL Rookie Draft by Collingwood, and made his debut in Round 18 of 2005 against Fremantle at the MCG. He kicked a great goal against the Kangaroos shortly after his debut, and did enough to be retained on the rookie list. In 2006 Harry showed more improvement and was elevated to the senior list again during the year, this time due to the absence ofSean Rusling, playing a total of 9 games.
Coach Mick Malthouse at one point in an interview challenged the AFL's rules on rookies in response to not being able to permanently play Lumumba in the seniors on the basis of his excellent form.[3]
He was elevated to the senior list for season 2007. In 2008, he came 5th in the Copeland Trophy count, Collingwood's Best and Fairest.[4] In 2009, he came 4th in the Copeland Trophy.
He has played in numbers 43, 30 and his current number 8. In 2010 he has won his first All-Australian honour in the half-back flank. He was instrumental in Collingwoods's 2010 grand final replay win over St Kilda and kicked a long goal from the boundary line late in the game.
Personal life
He was born to a Brazilian mother and a Congolese father in Rio de Janeiro, and moved to Western Australia when he was 3 years old.[5]However he was raised by his Australian stepfather and was 19 years old when he found out about his biological father.[6] He supported theEssendon Bombers as a child, with his family owning a pet dog named Sheedy after the long-time Essendon coach, Kevin Sheedy.
He went to school at Rossmoyne Primary from 1994–99, and also went to Rossmoyne Senior High School.
Lumumba changed his name to Harry O'Brien when he was 9 years old, taking an anglicised Christian name and the O'Brien surname of his step-father. In December 2013, he decided to change his name back and officially be named "Heritier Lumumba" in recognition of his father's family name and his paternal Congolese heritage.[1][7]
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