Published by Ryan Bailey- Veteran linebacker Bo Lokombo has been an integral portion of the Lions’ success. As he enters his ninth year of pro football, his duties as a leader extend over and above the locker home and into a neighborhood he’s referred to as household considering that he was a youthful boy.
“For me, I like to lead by illustration. The biggest issue is staying anyone who delivers power and who is positive,” he mentioned.
In his time as a youngster, he viewed how the veteran gamers acted in the locker space, and now that has shaped what he provides to the crew. He cites two former teammates as remaining specifically impactful on his vocation.
“When I came into the league I was powering two fantastic linebackers, Solomon Elimimian and Adam Bighill, these men had been recognized and were the leaders that a ton of guys appeared up to. The way they carried them selves, their professionalism, coming in an hour early just before most people else and carrying out the matters they essential to in buy to conduct at a superior stage, which is what I took from them,” Lokombo included.
As time goes on and teammates occur and go, the hunger and drive to earn only develop deeper. For him, getting to be a champion is of the highest relevance. He claims coming shut basically isn’t ample, and possessing to observe a further group hoist the trophy each year only motivates him even much more.
“I’m definitely fired up about receiving again at it this year. You want to be a winner. You want to be remembered as a champion.”
Bo Lokombo
“You never want to perform this sport and normally shed. We set in so a lot perform, blood, sweat and tears. Some of us leave our people guiding, we really don’t want to come in and hope to lose.”
This motivation to get keeps him enthusiastic each and every one working day, but his maturity has revealed him that you have to have to master how to shed, to know how to acquire. As a chief on this workforce, he is familiar with there is a obligation to support the crew overcome losses and come back again much better.
“Losing and profitable. It goes hand in hand. You are not likely to get each video game. It is about how you can bounce again from a loss,” the veteran described.
Regardless of all this, his affect on the earth goes considerably even more than his existence on the industry. Bo has been a essential contributor to the Lions’ neighborhood courses and it is a little something that he is also inspired by.
Acquiring moved to Canada at a youthful age, he understands how complicated the changeover can be and feels a accountability to help youthful little ones of all backgrounds. Through the Lions’ faculty visits, Bo is capable to join with students from all around the province. This is an possibility he suggests several corporations never present.
“Something I value is that we have a platform to go and chat to students about diverse topics. Not every single organization has that platform where you can chat to youngsters about bullying, or how to get over racism. It is great for us to give back to the local community,” he explained.
Bo is earning a widespread impact by the Staff Up to Close Racism system, BC Lions Electrical power Champions and anti-bullying displays in partnership with Telus. He claims a lack of exposure to these plans in his childhood more motivates him to influence today’s youth.
“When I was in college, we under no circumstances had a experienced athlete who came to chat to us about those people subjects,” Lokombo claimed.
“What we’re executing now is really impactful. It is superior for the neighborhood and it is great for the kids.”
Bo’s knowledge as an immigrant helps him hook up on a deeper amount with a good deal of pupils who are seeking to discover their way in a new home.
“A good deal of kids who appear from one more nation typically leave every thing at the rear of. They have to restart wholly. They have to make new mates, adapt to a new society, and do a large amount of matters that area young children by no means would.
It can be pretty hard and if you don’t have a support technique or a person to assistance information you, you may possibly get shed alongside the way.”
These collective encounters both on and off the industry have shaped Bo Lokombo into a valuable piece of the Lions organization and community.
