Mboyo

Surely not? Some crimes ARE unforgivable!!

 

The lad made a mistake at a young age and we don't know the full story. It says he was part of a gang that committed the crime; it doesn't say it was him that actually performed the act. He paid his dues in prison and he isn't the same person he was 10 years ago; if he was he wouldn't be playing professional football, he'd be running with the same gang that got him in trouble.

I'm all for family values, but sometimes you have to accept that not everybody has a shining, golden past and people need second chances. Thankfully, this lad realised his mistake and has changed his life accordingly. I think it's refreshing to see somebody admit their mistakes and strive for a better future. Through being a footballer he's become an idol to many Congolese-born Belgian kids and is better placed than anybody to teach them about the consequences of choosing the wrong path.

I'm pretty sure the Nazi's had receptionists and windowcleaners, it doesn't necessarily make those staff members evil people, they just allied themselves with the wrong group and probably paid the price. Much like our Welsh friend here.

 

Well pal it's a big no from me! Send that speech to the young girls father! He should even be on the streets! Surprising how people's opinions change when it happens to one of their own!!

 

There is so many wrong's in this post i dont know were to start, Apart from calling you an idiot.

 

Seriously I have no idea what the crime he did - so speaking generally ideally I would want players who are good role models on and off the pitch, so that is no wife beaters, rapists, drug consumers, drink drivers, people who have been done for ABH or GBH, etc etc.

 

Well said!

 

I'm not saying that it'd help the victims family, but not all criminals are such for life.

If that was the case, take this scenario on board.

Imagine you're asleep in your bed, when you hear a crash downstairs. You come down to find a young lad in your house trying to steal a valuable ornament. You call the police, he's arrested and sentenced to 4 years in prison. You testify in court that he's a criminal and shouldn't be on the streets. You later learn that the young lad lives with his critically ill mother and was stealing to provide food for his sister and mother, while trying to find money for treatment options to help his mam out. While in prison his mother dies and his sister is adopted, leaving him without a family upon his release. The lad has paid his dues in prison, but now has nothing on the outside world. His punishment is now going beyond what he was sentenced to because he's suffering psychologically. He can't get a decent job because of his conviction, he has no money or a place to live. He is, essentially, ****ed.

Now, that's pretty extreme. It's not the same as a rape allegation, but it is an example of how a situation isn't always as crystal clear as it first seems. Mboyo was in a gang. It wasn't a one person gang consisting of himself, it was one of the most notorious gangs in Belgium which apparently had a network of over 150 people. He was part of the gang responsible for the crime. That might mean it was him that did it or he might just have been there at the time. Had he actually committed the rape, he probably would have got longer in prison so it's probably safe to assume he was an accessory. You should also consider the pressure gang culture puts on young people. At 16 he was very impressionable, I know I was at 16 and was probably made to do all sorts of stuff he didn't want to. When I was younger my friends were all into drugs (I wasn't) and I was constantly under pressure to experiment, skive off school, hang around the part etc. But it was my choice to hang round with these people, just like he made the choice to be in the gang and therefore took responsibility by going to prison. He showed remorse for his actions, apologised, served time in prison and did work for his local community. What more would you like him to do to try and show he isn't the same naive 16 year old?

I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have something like that happen to my own child, I wouldn't wish it on anybody, but I just don't think it's fair to chastise somebody for the rest of their life for something that they're desperately trying to get over and move on from. I mean, I bet you crapped your pants as a baby, but nobody now will call you "Mr ****ty Pants" because of what happened to you as a child.

 

Ate you pissed? It was gang rape on a 14 yr old!!!

 

Ate you pissed? It was gang rape on a 14 yr old!!!

 

You can't make excuses for him. Plus, this is the biggest load of **** I've read on this board.

 

How the hell can you side with a gang rapist of a 14 year old? Would you turn the other cheek if, god forbid, it had been your daughter?

If it'd been my child i'd be the one doing time!!

 

I think conversations such as this are such a farce without discussions of the wider issue. I'm not condoning anything but it's quite a miracle when a young man grows up in the DR Congo manages to escape such a tragic warzone. naturally he probably didn't know a lot better when he moved to Belgium and mixed with the wrong crowd. He was only 16 himself at the time of conviction a child really coming from a country with a life expectancy of less than 50. The fact that he is a rehabilitated member of society paying taxes and contributing to this planet instead of running around the congo shooting children is a blessing in it's own way.

 

he was 16...


not saying that makes it forgivable but it does change things significantly. Not only is that the most troubling age usually for anyone but life is not so black and white. His lifestyle, education, environment will have influenced him incredibly and the choices he made... gang mentality is a real dangerous issue.

Not excusing him just trying to avoid the simplistic views some are expressing here.

You'd kill him if it was your daughter...

what would you do if he was your son?

 

Right. Well to be frank, I couldn't care less. For the record, I'm not an idiot, you just don't agree with what I said, which of course is fine.

Having worked with the rehab process for criminals, I know first hand the challenges and problems that these people face when they come out of prison. It doesn't for one second make me sympathise with their crime, whether it's nicking an X-Box or beating a man to within an inch of his life. Some people come out and reoffend for a number of reasons. But a fair few come out of prison showing genuine remorse for their crimes. Now, that might not be much comfort for those affected by the crime, but what more can you ask of the person?

I lost a good friend to a drunk driver a couple of years ago and I was devastated. I miss him every day but I don't harbour a grudge against the guy that did it. What would be the point? It's not going to accomplish anything. The guy was sentenced to 14 years in prison, with no parole until 11.5 had been served. The bloke was nearly 50, so he's lost a decent chunk of his life for starters. Add to the fact he won't have a license for two years after that, he won't be able to get much work because of his conviction, his business folded, his wife has apparently emigrated to New Zealand with his three kids and is probably going to feel very sorry for himself when he comes out. On top of all that, he has the death of my friend on his conscience. That for me is punishment enough. He wasn't a horrible man, this guy was a self employed security consultant with a great life. He put up no fight in court, he admitted to his guilt straight away and was apparently in tears as they took him away. He made one mistake and it's ruined his life forever. He'll have to live with all of that, so how is me telling him he has no right to sort himself out and should **** off back to prison help him in anyway?

 

Their is nothing better then walking around somewhere on holiday and seeing a city fan with our badge on their shirt or shorts! It fills me with pride! I'm at the age were we used to have to say HULL CITY twice because we just weren't well known! Times have changed and we ARE known now. So lets not ruin all that hard work we've done by being associated with a rapist!!!

 

Good post. Unfortunately some people love jumping on the bandwagon of course if it was your daughter you would probably kill him that's how it goes and a natural reaction for some people.

What do you think happens to a 16 year old boy who turns around to the Mafia and says you know what, I don't want to take part in this gang rape. When you get out of the bubble of civilised western society it's a hell of a lot more complicated than you might think. Millions and Millions of young African boys are forced into fighting at a young age and no noting else other than murder and rape. Locking them all away and throwing away the key might prevent the problem to some extend but as always you need to look at the causes.


All that said, I wouldn't sign him for the reasons some of you have listed bad PR but that doesn't meant hat society as a whole should just give up on such individuals.



edit: typed this on my phone so above is a mess (before someone else points it out) ha

 

I'm not debating whether the crime of gang rape is right or wrong, of course it's wrong, it's wrong for so many different reasons. What I'm trying to say is that his mistakes as a youth (he was 16, still technically a child himself) shouldn't define him as a person in later life, otherwise he'll never get anywhere. He'll never have a fully clean slate, but it's unfair to say he shouldn't be given a second chance to at least try and make up for his mistake.

Anderlecht are a fully professional Belgian team, they'll know all about his baggage and his problems. They're the ones who are going to sign him and it'll be a boon for them because he looks like a top player. They're offering him a second chance. If we all were to dwell on the past, nobody would ever have a future.

 

M'boyo - surely being Irish isn't a crime? Although we will be getting top-heavy with the Irish contingent......

 

Finally, somebody who can see my point of view.

You only have to look at countries like Somalia to see what life is like for young people in these countries. I wouldn't have thought everybody in the gang was 16 years old, I'm guessing most of the others were much older. The crime in itself is awful, nobody will disagree there, but to write off a person that committed a crime at such a young age isn't fair.

We aren't going to sign him anyway, so it's a bit of a moot argument.