Archive

Archive for January 2nd, 2008

Zambian Born Dubbed as the New Adu

January 2nd, 2008 7 comments

by Dennis Mwanza and Francis Alisheke in Lusaka and Lukondo Siwale in U.S.A

Charles Renken is a Zambian soccer prodigy with skills beyond his years but unfortunately it looks like he will end up featuring for the U.S national team. Born as Charles Bimbe in 1993 in the Zambian capital Lusaka, the teenage sensation has been dubbed as new Freddy Adu. Adu was born in Ghana but he is featuring in the senior U.S soccer team.

Charles moved to Illinois, U.S.A from Zambia in 2003, after he was adopted by Seth and Pam Renken following a traumatic childhood in Lusaka’s Kalingalinga Township. His talent soon earned him a place at St.Louis’ elite youth soccer club Scott Gallagher S.C.

In the past three years, the Zambian born teenage sensation has represented the U.S at Under-14 and 15 levels.

The left footed striker won can also operate as a midfielder won the Golden Boot at the Under-15 2006 Manchester United Premier Cup U.S Finals while helping Scott Gallagher to a fifth place finish. Charles also trained at TSV 1860 Munich’s facility for two weeks in August 2006.


Charles, who was nick named “Lota” way back in zambia afterthe former konkola blades striker charles Lota, has a rare combination of composure and creativity which earned him a place into the U.S Under-17 Nike friendlies in Florida in early December 2007. And the young Zambian prodigy gave man of the match performances in the U.S 2-0 double wins over Brazil and Russia. Charles missed the 2-0 loss to Turkey due to an ankle injury.


The quite and shy 14 year is like an eagle. He can see spaces that others can’t see and he has the ability to penetrate these areas with or without the ball. This has led to fans on soccer forums discussing his apparently assured place on the 2014 U.S World Cup team though he is still eligible to feature for the Zambia if the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) can convince him.

Unlike other African countries like Ivory Coast (Didier Drogba), Mali (Fredric Kanoute and Momo Sissoko), Ghana (Owusu-Abeyie) who have managed to convince players who represented other countries at junior level and also Nigeria which is busy trying to convince English premiership star duo of Everton’s Victor Anichebe and Aston Villa Gabriel Agbonlahor, FAZ has not been in touch with the likes of former Manchester city star Jeff Whitley and Derby striker Robert Earnshaw.


In the Chelsea reserves there’s a 17 year old attacking midfielder French born with Zambian connections. His name is Gael Kakuta. There’s another Romanian Goalkeeper Cezar Andrei Lungu whose been capped at Under-21 level. Lungu was born in 1988 in Târgovişte, Romania. He spent last season on loan at Gloria Buzău from Steaua Bucureşti.

The trio of Charles Bimbe Renken, Gael Kakuta and Cezar Lungu are very much in the framework to feature for the Chipolopolo if Faz intervenes as they have not been capped at full international.

Photos courtesy of Isiphotos.com

Categories: Headline

Appiah Named in Black Stars Squad

January 2nd, 2008 Comments off


Ghana coach, Claude Le Roy whittled down his 40-man squad to 26, then a few hours later increased it by two, as he embarks on the final phase of preparations for the African Cup of Nations.

Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany) and Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana) were late additions to the initial list released by GFA
Le Roy included Black Stars captain, Stephen Appiah in his initial 26-man squad for a pre-African Cup of Nations training camp of the United Arab Emirates this week.

Also to be included in the squad is Laryea Kingston, another player just like Appiah who is recuperating from injury.
Stephen Appiah has been struggled with injury after suffering from complications on his knee but Claude Le Roy says he still has a role for his captain.
Le Roy wants Stephen Appiah around the rest of the team during the build up to the competition.
“Even without Stephen we’ll try to do our best to win the competition.
“That’s why I want him to join us for our training camp and if possible to be with us during the tournament as well.
“We will use him as a special adviser because he can bring a lot to the team even without playing.”Three local players, Fatau Dauda, Dan Opare and Kwadwo Asamoah have all managed to make it into the Frenchman’s list for the training tour while Celta Vigo striker, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, also makes the team.
Twelve of the players selected would depart Accra Wednesday evening for Dubai to be joined by the bulk of the players from their various bases in Europe.The team would begin preparations for the African Cup of Nations on Thursday at their training camp.Eleven of the players would be fighting for their first African Cup of Nations appearance as Claude Le Roy prepares to submit his final squad of 23 for the tournament by the January 10 deadline.
Ghana would kick off the tournament on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium with an opening Group A game against Guinea.
Ghana Squad
Goalkeepers:Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana)
Defenders:John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Dan Opare (Ashantigold, Ghana), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht, Holland) Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)
Midfielders:Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC, Greece), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Moussa Narry (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma, Italy)
Strikers:Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana).
Source: Ghana fa
Categories: Headline

Jeff Whitely

January 2nd, 2008 Comments off


Name : Jeff Whitley
Position: Midfielder
Date of birth: 28th January 1979
Place of birth: Zambia
NI debut: 11th February 1997; home v. Belguim (W 3-0)
Caps: 20
Goals: 3

Jeffrey Whitley has played for Manchester City and Northern Ireland but is currently without a club. He has recently left Cardiff City.

Born in Zambia, Whitley moved to England at the age of seven. He first played for the England under-17 team, and in 1996 joined Manchester City as a midfielder. As his father was born in Belfast he was eligible to play for three international teams: Northern Ireland, Zambia, or England. He chose Northern Ireland and played his first game for them in a friendly match against Italy in 1997. He was also the first black player to play for Northern Ireland.
In 2003 he moved to Sunderland to join his international teammate George McCartney at the Stadium of Light.

Notable goals include one against Wales in a 2004 World Cup qualifier in Cardiff, and against West Ham United in 2004, when he actually scored with a tackle.

At the end of the 2004/2005 season, after helping them to win the Football League Championship, Sunderland released Whitley from his contract. And later he signed for Cardiff City.
He also has a brother Jim who formely played professionally, but was forced to retire due to injury. Jeff was sent home from the Northern Ireland squad for disciplinary reasons as he missed a curfew set by manager Lawrie Sanchez.

Whitley was on loan to Stoke City from late 2006 until January 2007. However, he struggled to make an impact and ony made one start for the club in an under strength Carling Cup team, in a 2-1 defeat to Darlington.

Whitley recently went AWOL from Cardiff City with the Club, and his agent, unable to contact him. This prevented the club from being able to transfer him during the January Transfer Window.
On 16 February 2007 it was announced that Whitley would be joining Wrexham FC on loan for the remainder of the season. Whitley would score the vital winning goal on March 24, 2007 away against Bristol Roversin a 1-0 victory.
He was released by Cardiff upon his return to the club.

Source:Wikipedia
Categories: Headline