Latest news with #RonanKpakio
News.com.au
28-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
Craig Bellamy picks Ronan Kpakio for Wales after failing to buy him for Burnley
Craig Bellamy has revealed he tried to sign Ronan Kpakio at Burnley after naming the Cardiff teenager in his Wales squad. Full-back Kpakio, 18 last Sunday, was the surprise name in Bellamy's 27-strong squad on Wednesday for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium. Kpakio made his first league start for Cardiff on the final day of the season at Norwich after being capped by Wales at various age-grade levels. The right-back – who only turned 18 on Sunday and has captained Wales several times at youth level – has been named in Craig Bellamy's 27-strong squad.
The Independent
28-05-2025
- General
- The Independent
Craig Bellamy picks Ronan Kpakio for Wales after failing to buy him for Burnley
Craig Bellamy has revealed he tried to sign Ronan Kpakio at Burnley after naming the Cardiff teenager in his Wales squad. Full-back Kpakio, 18 last Sunday, was the surprise name in Bellamy's 27-strong squad on Wednesday for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium. Kpakio made his first league start for Cardiff on the final day of the season at Norwich after being capped by Wales at various age-grade levels. 'I've known Ronan since he was very, very young and I've kept an eye on him,' said Bellamy, who was Vincent Kompany's assistant at Turf Moor between 2022 and 2024. 'Even last year, I tried to buy him for Burnley, so I'm fully aware of him. 'You might see it (Kpakio leaving Cardiff) this year. I don't think it will just be them (interested). 'His progression has been outstanding. I think his potential can be ridiculously high. 'He's very athletic, very intelligent. If he wasn't injured, I would have had him here in March.' Fellow teenager Charlie Crew is also included after, like Kpakio, impressing during Wales' training camp for English Football League players in Cardiff and Spain last week. Leeds midfielder Crew, 18, spent the second half of last season on loan at Doncaster, where he picked up a League Two title winner's medal. Bellamy is grateful to call on midfielder Ethan Ampadu – 'a remarkable player for us and someone we don't have with his profile at this present moment' – and Harry Wilson. Fulham forward Wilson has scored four goals in six games under Bellamy but missed the opening two World Cup qualifiers in March – a 3-1 home victory over Kazakhstan and a 1-1 draw in North Macedonia – with a fractured foot. Ben Davies and Brennan Johnson will also report for international duty after helping Tottenham end their 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League. Bellamy said: 'Of course it's a positive. You'll have a moment where you can congratulate players, and I love them being on a high. 'But also I have to be responsible for players that perhaps haven't had the season they would have expected.' Entering camp on a low note will be Sheffield United striker Kieffer Moore, who could win his 50th cap against Belgium in Brussels. Moore's poor touch in the Championship play-off final proved costly for the Blades as Tommy Watson accepted the invitation to score Sunderland's Wembley winner. Bellamy said: 'He's fine (Moore). We all make errors, that's the game. The simple fact is as well as your egos, everything else is forgotten, it's not going to serve you here. 'Whether they're coming in on a trampoline or with a ball round their neck, off we go, in you go.' There is no place for Cardiff-born Manchester United striker Gabriele Biancheri, who attended Wales' training camp. Biancheri is also qualified to play for Canada through his mother and has accepted an invitation to join Jesse Marsch's Canucks squad this week as a 'training player'.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Wales call-up Kpakio's 'potential ridiculously high'
Wales head coach Craig Bellamy has called up Cardiff City's teenage defender Ronan Kpakio for the World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium in the decision to add the right-back, who only turned 18 this week, to his squad is not such a surprise when you consider Bellamy has been a fan of Kpakio for some time - and even considered buying the youngster when the Wales boss was part of Burnley's backroom staff."I've known Ronan since he was very, very young, I've kept an eye on him," Bellamy said."Even last year we wanted to buy him for Burnley, so I'm fully aware, I've watched him - especially over the last couple of years, his progression has been outstanding."His potential can be ridiculously high; he's very athletic, very intelligent."If he wasn't injured I would have had him in March, as he's a player - especially in the right-back position... where we don't have a big area [of selection choices] in there, so we really need to start developing players in that position."He's the perfect profile for that."Kpakio has come through the Bluebirds academy system and has so far made only six senior appearances for the club. He made his debut in the EFL Cup last August before his first league start came on the final day of the Championship season.
Hamilton Spectator
28-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Wales manager Craig Bellamy calls up a player with one league start for World Cup qualifying
CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Few soccer players have been fast-tracked to their national team quicker than Ronan Kpakio. The right back from Cardiff, who turned 18 on Sunday, was named in Wales manager Craig Bellamy's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday despite only having started one league game. He could now play in games against Liechtenstein on June 6 and Belgium on June 9. Kpakio has featured in six games for Cardiff in all competitions, and only started his first league game May 3, the last day of the season. That followed two earlier substitute appearances in the second-tier Championship and matches in the FA Cup and English League Cup. Wales has four points from its first two qualifying games as it aims to reach a second successive World Cup for the first time in its history. ___ AP soccer:
Washington Post
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Wales manager Craig Bellamy calls up a player with one league start for World Cup qualifying
CARDIFF, Wales — Few soccer players have been fast-tracked to their national team quicker than Ronan Kpakio. The right back from Cardiff, who turned 18 on Sunday, was named in Wales manager Craig Bellamy's squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers on Wednesday despite only having started one league game. He could now play in games against Liechtenstein on June 6 and Belgium on June 9.
