Thus is the start of a new series we’ll be running as we profile some of Newcastle’s exciting young stars, who are working their way up at the club.
Kazenga Lua Lua – 17 years old and looks good already
Kazenga Lua Lua is the brother of former Newcastle forward Lomano Lua Lua, and he joined Newcastle United in 2005 at the age of 15. Lomano recently validated that Kazenga was in fact his brother and not his cousin, as had been previously thought.
Kazenga was born in December, 1990 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo and he moved to England shortly after his birth.
Kazenga has progressed extremely well in Newcastle’s Youth Academy which he joined in 2005, when he was just 15 years old. He is now playing regularly for the Reserve side and has appeared four times for Newcastle’s first team this season, all as a substitute.
Kazenga in training earlier in the season
Kazenga made his debut for Newcastle in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, coming on in the 74th minute of a 3rd round FA Cup game against Stoke City as a substitute for Damien Duff.
Kazenga has had much success with the Newcastle Youth team, and he was part of the side that reached the semi-final of the FA Youth Cup in the 2005-06 season.
His brother Lomana LuaLua, who was a former Newcastle player and currently plays for Olympiacos in Greece, has recently voiced his willingness to join up with his brother at Newcastle, but we don’t think manager Keegan will take the bait.
Kazenga has lots of skill, much like his brother, but he is also very direct and can take players on, as he showed during his first team appearances. He stands 5’11†tall and when he’s appeared in the first team he hasn’t looked out of place one little bit.
Kazenga made his Premiership League debut on January 19, 2008, when he again came on as a substitute for Damien Duff at St. James’ Park. The match was against Bolton Wanderers, which was the first home game of Kevin Keegan’s new reign at the Tyne-side club.
The club has great hopes for Kazenga and it would be great if he, and a couple more of our teenagers, can make the step up next season and be challenging for a first team position.
Comments very welcome.
27 comments so far
Tom_Toon
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:10 PM
Comment #1Chermiti pls
GP
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:15 PM
Comment #2Hopefully he’ll get a few starts this season – can’t do any worse, really.
mikeygd
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:23 PM
Comment #3Play the kids kev! Give em a shot! if there shit fuc em! lol
cooldj
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:44 PM
Comment #4ed, i was always led to believe he was lomana’s nephew but i’ll double check this.
Davies
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:48 PM
Comment #5So did I, but he’s been quoted as saying that he’s his brother, and I reckon he’d know.
cooldj
Feb 26, 2008 at 5:51 PM
Comment #6His brother Lomana LuaLua (these two are often thought to be cousins but this was cleared up in an interview with Lomano Lua Lua) is also a professional footballer, with Newcastle being one of his former clubs, and currently plays for Olympiacos.
from wiki
Paul R
Feb 26, 2008 at 6:05 PM
Comment #7If you look on the other topics today in all my teams for next weekend i have him in playing just behind carroll and martins !! i think he is such a great prospect and with his pace and runs he makes i think could be great for toon now would certainly set a few goals up and maybe bag the odd one !! This is what we need at the mo (pace) to frighten defenders the likes of butt barton duff just arent quick enough to scare defenders in to mistakes !!
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 26, 2008 at 6:09 PM
Comment #8i know alot of people dont think that lomano should come back but i think his agresive attacking style would be good.
Gooderz
Feb 26, 2008 at 6:32 PM
Comment #9Maybe we should try Kazenga out on the right and move Milner more centrally.
It also looks as though we might have another talent starting to come through in Brad Inman. Apparently he had a very good game for the U18 side against Liverpool a little while back and that was also his debut.
figsdad
Feb 26, 2008 at 6:36 PM
Comment #10I would bring him on 2nd half on sat..
yes he likes running at people and against bolton he looked really good…
Mighty Mouse
Feb 26, 2008 at 7:06 PM
Comment #11wiki said it so it must be true
briss264
Feb 26, 2008 at 7:17 PM
Comment #12I think kazenga will have a big part to play if Zog leaves in the summer
GP
Feb 26, 2008 at 8:25 PM
Comment #13Mighty Mouse – F**k off with that, please. Everybody who actually pays attention to the world of football knows they’re brothers.
CRAIGG
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:22 PM
Comment #14Leo i said this the other day about Lomano Lua Lua saying he would like to come back.
I remember seeing us 1-0 down at highbury in 2001 when bobby brought on Lua Lua and Robert to play on the wings Lua Lua on the right Robert on the left and they turned the game in our favour
Lua Lua dribbling past ashley cole on numerous occasions put a fine string of crosses which campbell and Keown had to be at their best to deal with and set up our fist with a great corner put right on O’Briens head and After Robert won a pen which Big al scored. Lua Lua Then set up Robert for the third with a wonderful throughball on the half volley from the right wing that curved right into roberts path 3-1, that took us top of the league at crimbo! god what would you give to get those times back.
He is incredibly talented despite what some of you say about him.
If he comes back i wouldnt get rid of Owen or Martins they would rotate and play alongside Ashton(Please) or Big Andy Carroll roatated, he would play wide on the right rotated with Milner and to cover injuries up front.
I would if possible sign brown as competition for Beye at right back and as cover across the back 4
Bridge or if he is no go maybe Shorey as left back to rotate with Enrique.
Lua Lua on the right wing he is perfect for it and can cover up front if needed.
Carrick and Arshavin would be awesome signings in the middle if we could get them Emre and also Barton (sorry) would stay for me to rotate.
Arshavin can cover all across the midfield or even up front.
I would love ashton up top because despite mixed feelings on this blog ive seen him play loads and he is awesome on his day rotated with Carroll alongside Owen or Oba.
Edgar, Kadar, Kaz Lua Lua, Baheng, Forster, Tozer, Godsmark, Donaldson ETC. would be loaned out to chamionship sides. (Some maybe to Roeders norwich? or Pearsons Saints? ) for proper experience as reserve football is not competitive to keep them progressing or happy.
Squad:-
Given/Harper
Beye/Brown Taylor/Cacapa Faye/Ramage Bridge/Enrique
Lomano Lua Lua/Milner Carrick/Barton Emre/Arshavin Duff/N’Zogbia
Owen/Martins Ashton/Carroll
I know people will have a pop at me for keeping the centre backs as the same but i personally think we have at times looked solid and with more consistancy we could be really good at the back.
Also Ramage, Barton or Cacapa arent popular but i think are better than given credit for despite obvious faults are good back up to the first team.
I dont like reading or writing long essays on this blog but i wanted to make a few points
Tom_Toon
Feb 26, 2008 at 10:36 PM
Comment #15Id sign:
LB – Bridge
CB – Naldo – Can play all across back 4.
CB – Rusol
CDM – Song
CAM – Kahlenberg
ST – Chermiti
Out:
Ramage
Rozehnal
Ameobi
Smith
Barton
Butt
Viduka (reluctantly, if at all)
ToonKing
Feb 26, 2008 at 11:48 PM
Comment #16I loved Lomano when he played for us and i can see the spark in this kid. He’ll be big at St James, just u guys watch 😀
CJ
Feb 27, 2008 at 12:05 AM
Comment #17Tom Toon- I agree with your player’s out but other than Bridge and maybe Song i would not bother.
Leo* I HATE NICKY BUTT
Feb 27, 2008 at 1:19 AM
Comment #18maybe we should start a petition to get lua lua back to the toon, where he will be with family. and has something to prove, he never let us down when he was hear, i cant remember many bad games… always worked hard and got goals…
Tez131
Feb 27, 2008 at 1:32 AM
Comment #19Lomano,
I can remember his goal against us when loaned to pompy!!
And then when we wanted to recall him (for european game) he would not come back even though we were desperate for stikers because of injuries.
I would rather give the kid a go than bring back Lomano. He looks a real prospect.
I think Edgar should be given his chance as well.
Tooner
Feb 27, 2008 at 2:41 AM
Comment #20Relegation beckons if we keep playing shit first teamers without any confidence. Can’t hurt to put some of these lads in at half time or maybe from the start, in the case of Carroll.
toon_fan_83
Feb 27, 2008 at 3:30 AM
Comment #21Whats the matter with Viduka why isnt KK playing him, is he injured?????
I think hes the only player that we have at the moment that can hold the ball up and actually even score.
What do u guys think?
Jimmie
Feb 27, 2008 at 7:54 AM
Comment #22Who is this Kahlenberg? Never heard of him..
Ian
Feb 27, 2008 at 8:57 AM
Comment #23He is better than Barton already.
Rich
Feb 27, 2008 at 9:01 AM
Comment #24Kahlenberg is a good player, he wants a move to England as well. Think hes 23, 24?, really powerful, creative atacking midfielder. Hes a good passer and has great vision. Saw him play a few times for Auxerre looks the part!
Gooderz
Feb 27, 2008 at 9:04 AM
Comment #25Kahlenberg is 6ft tall, about 24/25 years old and plays for Auxerre able to play anywhere in midfield. He is two footed, has a good amount of skill and awareness, is not afraid to shoot at goal if a chance presents itself and will also run beyond the forwards.
If you youtube him you can see a lot of clips of what he is capable of, of try and catch the French footbal highlights at the weekend.
greek toon
Feb 27, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Comment #26Lua Lua has denied in the Greek press that he ever said he wanted a return to Newcastle (not surprisingly). I thought he was a bit idle at the toon anyway.
Elliott
Feb 27, 2008 at 1:11 PM
Comment #27He was a decent sub, and we could do with him now but in a decent squad he’d still only be a sub.