Charles Renken
Encyclopedia
Charles Bimbe-Renken is an American
(hometown Edwardsville, Illinois
) soccer player currently signed to play football for the German side 1899 Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga
.
a slum located outside the capital of Lusaka
. I n 1999, Charles' older brother, Richard Bimbe, was adopted by Seth and Pamela Renken, after Richard was stranded in America. It was discovered that Charles' brother, Richard, and several other Zambian
choir boys were brought to the US, held captive and forced to tour; performing in churches all over the country, at the coercion of minister Keith Grimes of the TTT: Partners in Education ministry.
After Charles' sister, Leslie, died of tuberculosis at the age of 16 in early 2003, Seth and Pamela Renken brought Richard's three younger brothers, Peter, Steven, and Charles, to Edwardsville, Illinois
in February 2003, and adopted them.
. Using makeshift soccer balls out of melted plastic. Once he moved to the US, Charles had his first experience with organized soccer when his new adoptive parents enrolled him on a local U-9 team, in the spring of 2003. The team hadn't won a game the previous season. They didn't lose a game with Renken. Overwhelming the suburban kids with his raw power and creativity cultivated from the unforgiving shanty town
streets in Zambia
. Renken, instantly, was a menacing force on the pitch, taking on three to four defenders at once, while scoring goals in bunches. By the callow age of ten, Renken, played in and dominated the U-14 league.
, and had a trial and an open invitation to return from Arsenal
. However, In 2009, Renken was signed to a multiple year deal with the Bundesliga
team 1899 Hoffenheim. Though, FIFA
rules prohibit transfers of players of under the age of eighteen. Renken was sent, by Hoffenheim, to Vancouver
to develop with the Vancouver Whitecaps
residency program. Renken will split time between the Hoffenheim academy and the Vancouver Whitecaps
residency school until his eighteenth birthday, where he will be eligible to move to Germany and train with Hoffenheim permanently.
and began training U.S. Soccer's
full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 men's national team, known as the IMG Soccer Academy
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(hometown Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
) soccer player currently signed to play football for the German side 1899 Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
.
Early life
Charles Renken was born, Charles Bimbe, in Kalingalinga, ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
a slum located outside the capital of Lusaka
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
. I n 1999, Charles' older brother, Richard Bimbe, was adopted by Seth and Pamela Renken, after Richard was stranded in America. It was discovered that Charles' brother, Richard, and several other Zambian
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
choir boys were brought to the US, held captive and forced to tour; performing in churches all over the country, at the coercion of minister Keith Grimes of the TTT: Partners in Education ministry.
After Charles' sister, Leslie, died of tuberculosis at the age of 16 in early 2003, Seth and Pamela Renken brought Richard's three younger brothers, Peter, Steven, and Charles, to Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville, Illinois
Edwardsville is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,293. It is the county seat of Madison County and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of Ninian Edwards, then Governor of the Illinois...
in February 2003, and adopted them.
Youth
As a young boy, Renken began playing barefoot soccer everyday in the streets and fields of ZambiaZambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Using makeshift soccer balls out of melted plastic. Once he moved to the US, Charles had his first experience with organized soccer when his new adoptive parents enrolled him on a local U-9 team, in the spring of 2003. The team hadn't won a game the previous season. They didn't lose a game with Renken. Overwhelming the suburban kids with his raw power and creativity cultivated from the unforgiving shanty town
Shanty town
A shanty town is a slum settlement of impoverished people who live in improvised dwellings made from scrap materials: often plywood, corrugated metal and sheets of plastic...
streets in Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. Renken, instantly, was a menacing force on the pitch, taking on three to four defenders at once, while scoring goals in bunches. By the callow age of ten, Renken, played in and dominated the U-14 league.
Professional
Renken was drawing interest from powerhouse teams such as Manchester United and LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, and had a trial and an open invitation to return from Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
. However, In 2009, Renken was signed to a multiple year deal with the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
team 1899 Hoffenheim. Though, FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
rules prohibit transfers of players of under the age of eighteen. Renken was sent, by Hoffenheim, to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
to develop with the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, formerly known as Whitecaps FC Reserves, is a Canadian soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although founded in 2005 as part of the development system for the Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division franchise, beginning in 2011 they are part of the...
residency program. Renken will split time between the Hoffenheim academy and the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Vancouver Whitecaps Residency, formerly known as Whitecaps FC Reserves, is a Canadian soccer team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although founded in 2005 as part of the development system for the Vancouver Whitecaps USL First Division franchise, beginning in 2011 they are part of the...
residency school until his eighteenth birthday, where he will be eligible to move to Germany and train with Hoffenheim permanently.
International
Renken played with the U-14 national team in 2005, moving up to the U-15's the following year. In 2008, Renken moved to Bradenton, FloridaFlorida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
and began training U.S. Soccer's
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 men's national team, known as the IMG Soccer Academy
IMG Soccer Academy
The IMG Soccer Academy is part of the IMG Academies located in Bradenton, Florida. It is U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program for the United States' U-17 and U-16 mens national teams. Started in 1999, it has become integral in developing the United States' top youth soccer prospects...
.