Zambianfootball.net

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