Renard’s Mwense Trial Reveal Wonder Boy

From ROBINSON KUNDA in Mansa
A hitherto unknown 16-year-old striker of the remote town of Mwense has caught the eye of national soccer team coach Herve Renard who has uncharacteristically overtly praised the lad.
Shadreck Chimanya’s skills have impressed Renard, who has for the first time made public his views of a particular player since the talent identification programme started last month.
The coach described Chimanya as a highly talented player who can make it into the national team.
“He is very talented but we just need to polish him, then he will be there,” Renard said.
The Frenchman said it will be a huge success to identify even four or five players who can play for the Chipolopolo.

Renard and his technical bench are in Mansa assessing players ahead of the 2014 African Nations Championship qualifier against Botswana in June and the Council of Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge which Zambia will host in July.
Renard is confident the nationwide talent identification programme will bear fruit.
“To me this programme is already a success. Look at Shadreck, he is very good but we wouldn’t have seen him had it not been for this programme.
“Some people have just told me here that he actually once played for the under-17 national team but no one has ever told me about him until it took the trials that we conducted here,” Renard said.
The Grade 12 Mwense Secondary School pupil is a speedy left-winger, with those who have watched him suggesting that he could be a perfect replacement for Rainford Kalaba.
Renard said Zambia has a lot of talented players but they need exposure for them to make it.
And Renard has paid tribute to local coaches that are helping in the talent search programme.
He said he is humbled by the support and that their effort will not be in vain.
Renard said he has decided to take it upon himself to identify new players because he appreciates the challenges that most coaches face.
“Coaches want to win the games because their employers need good results all the time, so it means they (coaches) have no time to do experiments. They would rather have players that have already proved themselves,” he said.
He said it is important for the senior national team to have a developmental side.