Chelsea ban scandal: So, who's Gael Kakuta, the kid they call the black Zidane?

04 September 2009 01:06
A brief conversation with the man who helped develop Gael Kakuta's career speaks volumes about why Chelsea went to such extraordinary and ultimately damaging lengths to sign the jewel of the RC Lens academy. [LNB]Former Poland and Lens striker Joachim Marx coached Kakuta at the French centre of excellence in the northern city of Lievin. Now a scout for Lens, Marx, 65, offers a fascinating insight into his protege's early career. [LNB] Blue boy: Gael Kakuta in action during an FA Youth Cup match against Liverpool last season[LNB]'The easiest way to describe him is a phenomenon,' said former Lens boss Marx. [LNB]'I was director of a French Federation football school when I first worked with him. Between the ages of 13-15 you could see he had everything. [LNB]'Perhaps one criticism was that he didn't try very hard sometimes in training - because he didn't need to! He could already do everything.' [LNB]Frank Arnesen: spotted Kakuta's talent[LNB]It was a talent that did not escape Chelsea's Frank Arnesen, and, asMarx revealed, the interest from Stamford Bridge had a dramatic effecton Kakuta's career path. [LNB]'His mum wanted him to stay at Lens because they had a good planmapped out for him, which included getting an education and working athis football before eventually progressing to the first team,' saidMarx. [LNB]'But Gael didn't want to go to school. He was at that age when heonly wanted to be a footballer. He actually ended up having to repeat aschool year because he didn't pass his exams. [LNB]'Lens had an agreement signed with him. Chelsea are a rich and powerful club and Gael's mum changed her mind for whatever reason. In my opinion he was too young to leave and go to Chelsea. We told him he had lots of time to move later on but he was seduced by Chelsea.' [LNB]Kakuta caught the football bug aged seven after seeing his uncle play for Lille amateurs, and even losing his first game for local side Lille-Moulins 17-1 was not enough to put him off. [LNB]He has certainly impressed at Chelsea since joining as a 16-year-old in the summer of 2007. After a reserve team game alongside Michael Ballack, the Germany midfielder told journalists: 'Go see the French lad, he is the star.' [LNB]Early days: Kakuta pictured during his time as a schoolboy player with RC Lens[LNB]High praise indeed, although it is Steven Gerrard who is Katuka's favourite player. [LNB]Didier Drogba is understood to have taken Katuka, who was born in Lille but is of Congolese descent, under his wing when he first came to England. As the trips back across the Channel became less frequent, so Kakuta soon began to flourish, becoming academy scholar of the year after his first season with Chelsea, scoring 12 goals in 24 appearances for the youth team. [LNB]His performances also helped France to the final of the Under 17 European Championship in 2008. But the skilful attacking midfielder with a dazzling left foot saw his progress come to a shuddering halt with a double ankle break in February this year in a friendly against the Glenn Hoddle Academy. [LNB]Only recently coming back to fitness, 18-year-old Kakuta now faces another four months on the sidelines. This time, though, his only chance of a swift return to action rests with Chelsea's lawyers and not their medical staff.[LNB] Thieves! Chelsea hit with transfer ban until 2011 for 'stealing' young French star Gael KakutaChelsea academy chief Arnesen at centre of the storm over Lens 'stolen' gemAfrican exodus is the next problem for crisis club Chelsea have got previous: The Blues' controversial recruitment policyGolden oldies: Half the Chelsea team will be in their Thirties when the transfer ban is lifted in 2011CHELSEA FC

Source: Daily_Mail