Harry O'Brien is changing his name in recognition of his Congolese biological father.Credit:Getty Images
O’Brien was the name he took from his stepfather,Ralph,who passed away suddenly in 2009. The Magpie was born to a Brazilian mother,Elizabeth,and Congolese father in Rio de Janeiro,before moving to Western Australia,where he was raised by his mother and stepfather.
Lumumba is his biological father’s family name.
Collingwood has confirmed not only that"Harry"will change his last name to reclaim his father’s ancestry,but that he will be known as Heritier Lumumba,retaining the same first name. He has indicated that he prefers to be called either"H"or"’Tier"– the latter being the abbreviation his family uses – rather than Harry.
Lumumba told Collingwood’s website that teammates were"having a lot of fun"with his new name.
"They said,'we just can’t wait until you get the ball and you’re bouncing down the wing and we hear the commentators pronouncing your name’,"he said,adding of the new name:"It’s a bit stronger than Harry O’Brien ... it’s always resonated with me."