Charlton Athletic Online

News has broken this morning that Alan Curbishley has captured one of the most sought after strikers playing in Africa, and incredibly, his surname is Bent!

Folo Paril Bent has scored an amazing total of 146 goals in his first 97 games for the Accra, Hearts of Oak team, who play in the Ghanain first division. Folo is just 19 years old, but stands at six foot three, and is apparently very fast and skillfull. He has played at Hearts of Oak since he was 11 years old.

The signing, for just £100,000, is Charlton's first venture into the African footballer market, apart from Moroccan Talal El Karkouri, who signed from PSG a couple of years ago, and numerous South Africans who have represented the club over the last 50 odd years. Previous scouting missions to Africa by Premiership clubs have unearthed huge talents like Kolo Toure, Lomana Lualua, and Doriva, who all now ply their trade in the top English division.

As Folo has signed outside of the transfer window, he is ineligible to play for Charlton this season, but he is expected to move to South East London, and vie for a starting place alongside namesake's Darren and Marcus Bent at the start of 2006/2007 season.

With Bent, Bent, and Bent starting in the team next year, you would have to be round the bend to believe this.