Nicaise Kudimbana Opens Up on Lukaku Bond, Anderlecht Role and That Training Ground Scuffle
BRUSSELS — In a candid interview published by Belgian outlet DHnet on April 25, 2026, Nicaise Kudimbana, the 39-year-old goalkeeper coach for Anderlecht’s U23 team, offered rare personal insights into his enduring friendship with Romelu Lukaku and reflected on a notorious training ground confrontation from over a decade ago.
The former Congo international goalkeeper, who spent multiple stints at Anderlecht both as a player and now as a coach, described Lukaku as his “grand frère” (big brother) and revealed the depth of their bond that has persisted through Lukaku’s global football journey.
“Romelu vient de m’appeler pendant que j’étais en route vers cette interview,” Kudimbana told DHnet, translating to “Romelu just called me while I was on my way to this interview.” He emphasized their frequent communication: “On s’appelle très souvent.” (We call each other exceptionally often.)
Kudimbana recounted how he has tried to gauge Lukaku’s potential return to Anderlecht, the club where the striker began his professional career before moving to Chelsea in 2011. “Je le lui ai demandé une ou deux fois. Sa réponse ? ‘On verra, mais laisse-moi tranquille, toi.'” (I asked him once or twice. His answer? ‘We’ll see, but leave me alone, you.’) The goalkeeper coach added with a laugh: “La vérité ? On ne parle presque pas de foot.” (The truth? We almost never talk about football.)
The interview revisited several anecdotes from their time together at Anderlecht, including a playful wager during Lukaku’s first season with the first team in 2009-2010. Kudimbana recalled: “Il approchait déjà les 100 kilos, mais j’ai parié que je pourrais courir avec lui dans mon cou. Moi, je faisais 104 kilos. Boussoufa et les autres avaient bien rigolé.” (He was already approaching 100 kilos, but I bet I could run with him on my neck. I weighed 104 kilos then. Boussoufa and the others laughed a lot.)
He likewise addressed their ongoing friendly rivalry about strength, stating with characteristic humor: “Que les choses soient claires. Même si j’ai 39 ans et que je fais déjà 110 kilos, j’ai toujours la ceinture. Et Romelu le sait. Pour rester dans le jargon de la boxe, des petits combats ne m’intéressent pas. Je ne suis pas un outsider. Je suis et je reste le plus costaud.” (Let things be clear. Even though I’m 39 and now weigh 110 kilos, I still have the belt. And Romelu knows it. In boxing terms, small fights don’t interest me. I’m not an outsider. I am and remain the strongest.)
The most discussed moment from their Anderlecht days was a 2010 training camp incident in Austria where Lukaku, alongside teammates Ziguy Badibanga and Nathan Kabasele, confronted Kudimbana in his room. Kudimbana described the scene: “À un certain moment, Ziguy (Badibanga), Nathan (Kabasele) et Romelu se sont présentés dans ma chambre. ‘Aujourd’hui, on va te faire comprendre qui est le plus fort’, m’ont-ils lancé. Je les ai regardés et je leur ai demandé s’ils étaient certains ? Ils se sont jetés à trois sur moi. Romelu a demandé aux deux autres de m’attraper les jambes. Quand j’ai vu que c’était du sérieux, je me suis donné. Les deux autres sont vite partis, puis j’ai attrapé Romelu. Je l’ai forcé à dire qui était le plus fort.” (At a certain moment, Ziguy Badibanga, Nathan Kabasele and Romelu came to my room. ‘Today, we’re going to create you understand who is the strongest,’ they told me. I looked at them and asked if they were sure? They jumped on me three against one. Romelu asked the other two to grab my legs. When I saw it was serious, I gave it my all. The other two quickly gave up, then I grabbed Romelu. I forced him to say who was the strongest.)
Kudimbana revealed his immediate reaction after winning the impromptu confrontation: “J’ai paniqué quand j’ai fait saigner Romelu.” (I panicked when I made Romelu bleed.) This quote became the headline of the DHnet feature, highlighting the goalkeeper’s concern despite prevailing in the physical encounter.
The interview underscored Kudimbana’s unique position at Anderlecht, having worn the club’s jersey as a player during multiple spells (2008-2011, 2014-2015) and now serving in a coaching capacity. His career path has taken him through various Belgian clubs including Union Saint-Gilloise, Cercle Brugge, Oostende, Antwerp, and most recently Léopold FC as a player, before transitioning to goalkeeper coaching.
Currently working with Anderlecht’s U23 goalkeepers, Kudimbana represents a bridge between the club’s past and present, maintaining connections with former teammates like Lukaku while developing the next generation of talent at the Brussels-based club.
The DHnet interview, conducted from the Anderlecht bench as noted in the article (“réalisé depuis le banc des Mauves”), provides a humanizing glimpse into the personal relationships that form behind the scenes in professional football, particularly the enduring bond between two Belgian-Congolese players who rose through Anderlecht’s ranks together.
As Lukaku continues his career at the international level and Kudimbana shapes young goalkeepers at Anderlecht, their friendship remains a testament to the lasting connections forged in football’s formative years — complete with training ground scuffles, playful bets, and mutual respect that has endured well beyond their playing days side by side.
For ongoing updates on Anderlecht’s U23 team and goalkeeper development, fans can follow the club’s official channels. The next confirmed checkpoint for Anderlecht’s youth squads is typically their next scheduled match in the Belgian U23 league, though specific dates and opponents would require verification through official club sources.
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