One of our best up-and-coming youngsters at the Newcastle club, is 17 year-old Kazenga LuaLua, who is the brother of former Newcastle player Lomana LuaLua, who was at the club under Sir Bobby Robson.
Kazenga LuaLua – doing very well at Newcastle
LuaLua talked to the Evening Chronicle today:
“This season has been fantastic for me.” “When I came on at Stoke to make my debut I was really, really proud.”
“It was a dream come true.”
“I thought I had a good game, and Sam Allardyce said to me after the game I had done really well, and just to keep going.”
“And that’s what I did under Kevin Keegan.â€
His brother Lomana, who moved from Portsmouth last year is now playing for Greek club Olympiakos in the European Champions League, and has done extremely well at the Greek club.
But Kazenga has his feet firmly on the ground, thanks partly to the help from his brother, and he’s also been well taken care of by Academy coach Joe Joyce and our new Reserve team manager Adam Sadler.
The 17 year-old continued:
“You never know what is going to happen.”“But there are exciting times ahead at Newcastle now.”
“And I’m really happy at the club.â€
“I know it was the end of season in the reserves, but I just kept on going in training.â€
Kazenga has an excellent attitude and it’s nice to see his is so positive about the club. He was rewarded at the end of the season, when Kevin Keegan brought him on as a substitute against Everton, in Newcastle’s last game of the season.
We expect the youngster to push for a first team place next season, although at just 17, he still has a long way to go in his football development, and the boy could even be sent out on loan next season to get some games under his belt.
Comments welcome.
32 comments so far
Martins
May 24, 2008 at 2:58 PM
Comment #1Kazenga Lua Lua is a very good prospect. He will turn out to be a star-player in a couple of years.
ED: You are doing a great job, the best Newcastle-blog for sure. Ever thought about creating a forum on this page?
Rem
May 24, 2008 at 3:00 PM
Comment #2This is one of my fav bits of football.
Seeing young talent coming throu the system, unfortunatly we always put so much hope on our youngsters coming through, but they rarely do, hopefully Lua lua is different, i think he will be.
(e.g pattison, huntington, chopra, ameobi, brittian)
Bill F
May 24, 2008 at 3:07 PM
Comment #3I don’t care how old he is, if he is good enough then play him. Look at Pato and Ballodini and much much earlier Pele. At the other end of the scale I would sign Del Piero and Junihno given the chance.
JJ
May 24, 2008 at 3:10 PM
Comment #4Lua Lua has pace and skill, and he looked to have a good eye for a pass. But he needs a creative midfield player to learn from and we just dont have any at the club.
On another story… some mate of mine told me that Alan Smith had signed up for a return to Leeds in a 4mil pound deal. He said it was on Sky and I believed him……. : (
What kind of sick joke is that, needless to say we are no longer friends, that SOAB!!!! Its like telling me Ive won the Lotto when Im in 100K debt only to be lying!!!!
Theres joking around and then theres just sick people who go tooo far!!!! ; )
Davies
May 24, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Comment #5Good gag JJ, like your style.
Loving Lualua, but it’s going to be a while before he’s a regular first teamer unless somebody straps on a pair of balls and gives him a proper go.
With the lack of movement from Wise and Co. I suppose it is possible that he could get a proper go sooner than expected.
Y’never know!
seetow
May 24, 2008 at 3:41 PM
Comment #6like this lad.. thought he was lomano’s cousin? not brother?
looney_toon
May 24, 2008 at 4:14 PM
Comment #7lol jj – i lk lualua but i dont noe wen he is gonna get a chance to play – i dont noe how gd keegan is with playin youngstars n developin dem
Ross
May 24, 2008 at 5:20 PM
Comment #8got alot of time for this lad like, he seems really decent.
would like to see him get a kick about pre season which im sure he will, just to see what he has to offer and whether he could play a part in next season at all
toonfan1
May 24, 2008 at 5:30 PM
Comment #9wahey hull city promoted! surely 6 points home and away against them next season 🙂
Ed Harrison
May 24, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Comment #10Martins – we had a forum on here for a while.
I didn’t think it was too useful since most people just entered their comments under the latest article.
But there has been some requests for it. I’ll look into it again – but that will be left to the fans to make up their own discussion points etc – will see if I can get the forum back up.
I’ll need to understand exactly how I do it. thanks.
Ed Harrison
May 24, 2008 at 5:34 PM
Comment #11Yes – 6 points against Hull – that’s the way to pick up the points – but we haven’t done that in the past. Forget the top 4 if we can do well against the remaining 15 teams we can finish very high up in the league next season.
Hammy
May 24, 2008 at 5:46 PM
Comment #12Amy Winehouse bumps into Jeremy Clarkson at a celebrity bash.
“What do you do?” she asks.
“Top Gear” replys Clarkson
“Fu@king champion, I’ll have 3 grams”…..
Bill F
May 24, 2008 at 9:09 PM
Comment #13How about that young kid Windass, what a prospect.
Nev
May 24, 2008 at 9:22 PM
Comment #14is this a joke ?
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12010_3605343,00.html
JOE LEWIS IN THE ENGLAND SQUAD, THE PETERBOROUGH UNITED KEEPER!
why would fabio capello do that when rob green, steve harper and paul robinson arnt in the squad
madness!
ronaldeano
May 24, 2008 at 9:51 PM
Comment #15THERES ONLY ONE PHIL BROWN!!!!
Its great how a bloke who grew up with my dad as best mates, who is from the same estate i grew up in, and is a very close family friend, can take a club up into the PL for the first time in their history!!! 🙂
Im very proud of you Phil, you are a credit to South Shields! Even though you support Skumberland!
I will see you in the PL next season when NUFC will lash you!
Enjoy your day mate! 🙂
ToonKing
May 24, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Comment #16i really hope we are one of the 3 teams :
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11661_3605181,00.html
PS: no need for a forum Ed.
daiv
May 24, 2008 at 10:33 PM
Comment #17Much better than SMITH who is on 20X the boy’s wages.
reillers
May 24, 2008 at 11:17 PM
Comment #18On a different note Duff had a good game for Ireland there. He made a wee few mistakes down to cobwebs I’d say but he made the crowd turn their heads everytime he got the ball, was one of the main Irish players who looked like he’d do something. Really, really good signs from Duff.
We should really keep him. Looked more then a wee bit positive there.
m.
May 24, 2008 at 11:37 PM
Comment #19this kid seems to be class.
OFF: i support the idea of creating a forum!
IrishMan
May 24, 2008 at 11:39 PM
Comment #20Buy Trundle now as a 20 minute super-sub. At least 10 goals next season.
Leo
May 25, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Comment #21trundle n joe r doin good
D B F
May 25, 2008 at 12:09 AM
Comment #22irish man- shut up with ur shit, well deffo challenge 4 top5 spot with signings like tundle wont we!!!!! get a grip mate
NUFCFAN
May 25, 2008 at 12:28 AM
Comment #23You know there is no news when these stories headline the days news and its only going to get worse over a bank holiday weekend
Warwick Hunt
May 25, 2008 at 12:47 AM
Comment #24http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8nQsrU8S3o
micknufc
May 25, 2008 at 12:58 AM
Comment #25im gutted that phil brown’s wanna them,never knew that!
done my time in sooth shields all 8 year of it,its what goes with the crack marrying a sandy… all black n white nook lads n lasses by the way.
safely back in crammy now.. lol
only joking south shields mags salt of
phil brown what a nob
micknufc
May 25, 2008 at 1:09 AM
Comment #26i must admit though, i like this blog ed.its spot on mate!! but as a bloke who goes to the “match” and has done since a 9 year old in 1979..
i worry about best part of the comments on here!
i know a lot are bairns’but my god some of these people are meant to be grown up newcastle united fans.. im a tad scared whats going to hapen at st james with the new set up,im all for it but!
we dont want the generation of tim lovejoys taking over
i’ll stick with the bloke that used to make the daft sound from the east stand any day
Angryman the angry fantasist
May 25, 2008 at 2:01 AM
Comment #27Eurovision minces
Lew Davies
May 25, 2008 at 9:10 AM
Comment #28I have watched quite a few of the reserves games and sometimes its quite depressing to see the difference in class to the senior team. But Lua Lua certainly has improved over the last season and if he continues improving, deserves a shot in the first team. He does have good pace and can score goals 😀
Ian
May 25, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Comment #29Lua Lua permanent first team for me, even if he is on the bench due to an amazing new signing, I would rather the club speculates in the reserves with young potentials, get them playing at least one season, two at the most then move them up, loan them out or sell them, then bring in the next, we have produced some good reserve players and could do with speeding that process up.
I think it is better than throwing £8- £11m at a new name who has had one good season at some foreign club.
Leo
May 25, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Comment #30if we make no right wing signings next season i think he will be first team, hes a decent looking player though so i have no problem
Oga
May 25, 2008 at 2:37 PM
Comment #31I have big hopes for this youth.
Scott H11
May 25, 2008 at 7:47 PM
Comment #32I’m happy with some of the young guns and agree that we should give them a run in the firsts instead of paying millions and high salaries for players who may not be coming for the right reasons. Edgar, and Lua Lua should be given the chance to prove themselves. Carroll’s attitude is a concern, particularly off the pitch and its bad enough having Barton at the club without yet another yob. I would keep Taylor but would not consider him any better than Edgar and play him in the reserves for part of the season until he learns to stop his costly errors.