Top Facts about Patson Daka, the Zambian Diamond
We are going to review top facts about Patson Daka.
Patson Daka (born 9 October 1998) is a Zambian professional football player who plays as a striker for Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg and the Zambia national team.
Top Facts about Patson Daka, the Zambian Diamond
We are going to review top facts about Patson Daka.
Quick Facts about Patson Daka
Date of birth:
October 9, 1998
Place of birth:
Chingola, Zambia
Age:
22
Height:
1,83 m
Citizenship:
Zambia
Position:
attack - Centre-Forward
Foot:
right
Current club:
Red Bull Salzburg
Joined:
July 1, 2017
Contract expires:
June 30, 2024
Date of last contract extension:
December 18, 2019
Outfitter:
Nike
Patson Daka childhood
Among the
top facts about Patson Daka
we can first have a look at his early life and family. Patson’s father, Nathtali, was himself a football player for Nitrogen Stars in his homeland of Kafue, but unhappily he died young.
At the age of 14, Patson Daka had to take charge of the family; he took on the same role for his community, too. Even back then, he supported those people around him as much as he could, because, Patson explains, “If you wait until you have a lot of money to help those who have less than you, you’ll never be rich enough. But if you always give a bit of what little you have, it’s always enough.”
When he was a teenager, everyone had warned Patson Daka about “the computer”. Some even murmured that the computer was so risky that it completely had to be destroyed. Patson Daka was 13 years old and didn’t see why he had to “beware the computer”. He came here to play football. It was the reason why Patson had moved to the Zambian capital, Lusaka.
Along with thousands of other boys, Patson had signed up for the 2012 Airtel Rising Stars, a competition that seeks out the best football talent in the country’s 10 provinces.
He succeeded here and, with skill and a bit of luck, his dream – a place in Zambia’s youth squad –came true.
After the first few games, the thousands of hopeful boys had been whittled down to a mere 200. By the end, that number was further reduced to only 18 and Patson Daka was their captain. Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu congratulated the young African on his Facebook page.
Patson Daka career life
On 1 January 2017, Liefering publicized that they had loaned in Patson Daka from Kafue Celtic for the remainder of the season, where he finished the season with 2 goals in 9 matches. On 1 July 2017, he was loaned back to Liefering to play the whole season in the Austrian Football First League, after he had finalized a transfer to Red Bull Salzburg.
One of the
top facts about Patson Daka
is that he signed a five-year contract with Red Bull Salzburg, and was firstly assigned to the youth wing. Patson Daka helped his team win the UEFA Youth League, netting 2 goals in 2 matches, and made his competitive first appearance for Salzburg the next season against Viitorul Constanța on 24 August 2019.
Three days later, he played in the league for the first time as a substitute against Sturm Graz, and he netted his first league goal for the club in a 2–0 home victory over Austria Wien. On 27 November, Patson Daka scored against Genk in the 2019–20 UEFA Champions League, becoming the first Zambian player to net in the tournament's group stage.
Patson Daka extended his contract with Salzburg on 18 December 2019 until the summer of 2024. On 30 September 2020, he scored a brace in a 3–1 victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv in the play-off round, to qualify to the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League.
Patson Daka International career
Regarding international career, it is worth mentioning that Patson Daka became the 2017 CAF Young Player of the Year.
Patson Daka personal life
One of the
top facts about Patson Daka
is that he is in relationship with Mvelako - Grace Chilufya.
Patson Daka value
One of the facts about Patson Daka is that according to Forbes, he has market value of $ 8.8 million.
Patson Daka link to Premier League clubs
One of the top facts about Patson Daka is that he is one of the most favourite young players for big Premier League clubs. Manchester United’s search for a forward this summer could branch in many directions. One choice is Red Bull Salzburg attacker Patson Daka.
Manchester United are said to be fascinated by the 22-year-old striker who has 27 club goals in 2020/2021 season. Patson Daka is also successful at scoring in international level too.
Patson Daka plays for Zambia, and scored twice in a victory over Zimbabwe, and another two against Algeria. He had scored a goal in his previous African Cup of Nations qualifier against Zimbabwe last year. So, he has five goals in his last three international matches.
It means for club and country Patson Daka now has more than 30 goals to his name this season.
Nevertheless, Daka’s goals could not help Zambia qualify for the AFCON, with his country finishing third in the group.
When it comes to Liverpool fans’ wish lists for the summer transfer window, Patson Daka might not be at the top on the list.
Names like Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are undoubtedly more fascinating for them.
Nevertheless, those options seem like vague dreams rather than reality, especially without a place in next year’s UEFA Champions League.
Accordingly on second thoughts, Patson Daka’s name is worth considering.
After all, there is a good relationship between Red Bull Salzburg and Liverpool. Three of the Austrian club’s former players are currently in Jurgen Klopp’s team in Naby Keita, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino. Moreover, other god former players include, Dayot Upamecano, Dominik Szoboszlai and Erling Haaland.
That definitely puts Patson Daka’s name on a notable list.
One of the top facts about Patson Daka is that he has scored 27 goals in 31 games this season which is almost equivalent to Erling Haaland’s accomplishment in Red Bull jersey.
Patson Daka reception
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp saw first-hand just how devastating the Zambian international can be in pre-season last summer with Daka scoring a double in a 3-2 friendly game between the two sides.
It was a moment which according to his former youth coach Lee Kawanu who spoke to First Time Finish was a ‘dream’ come true for 22-year-old Patson Daka.
Patson Daka himself has acknowledged he is a fervent supporter of Liverpool via Liverpool’s official website.
The Zambian has the speed and the vitality to suit Jurgen Klopp’s heavy metal football tactics.
Patson Daka’s love for the Reds, and the fact that he would be available for a quite cheap price according should be enough to convince us that he could be the perfect number nine signing for the team.
It is worth mentioning that Arsenal is another Premier League club who may be interested in signing Patson Daka and he may be available for a bargain fee.
Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch was quoted by Zambia News last year: “He is a great lad on and off the pitch, he is hardworking and he is a little fast. It’s a just lot of fun working with him and I hope he continues with this development he has a lot of potential, he is just a fantastic player.”
Daka’s goalscoring is not slowing down and it looks like Salzburg will struggle to hold onto him this summer.
Whether he can have the same type of impact as Erling Haaland upon leaving is a big ask, but he will be available at a fraction of the price of his former teammate this summer.
Patson Daka International heartbreak
One of the important facts about Patson Daka is that he was reasonably shocked that his country failed to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations.
He was quoted by Bolla Zambia website: “Despite us winning, it’s a very emotional night for us knowing that we could not go to the Africa Cup and it is one thing that we were looking forward to but unfortunately the plan from God and we just have to accepted what has happened.”
Failure to qualify for next year’s African Cup of Nations actually could help Daka in the short-term, to secure a big transfer this summer.
The postponed competition will take place in January 2022, in the middle of the European season.
When the African Cup of Nations was shifted to summer in 2019 it was an unpopular choice and has since reverted to January.
If Patson Daka had to play in the tournament, he would miss two months of next season, and it would be a big reason for major clubs not to sign him next year. Now, he is available the entire season.
Patson Daka said on his future: “Well, I only concentrate about playing football that’s what I am good at, so whatever speculation that comes I do not really pay attention because I know that my agent is there to do the work so I don’t really pay attention to what the media is saying.”
Patson Daka friendship with Enock Mwepu
Another top fact about Patson Daka is about his best friend. Patson Daka’s best friend is Enock Mwepu who also plays for FC Red Bull Salzburg. They have an interesting story.
Both of them came from Zambia and stole the hearts of thousands of fans. FC Red Bull Salzburg stars Patson Daka and Enock Mwepu talk about the priceless importance of companionship and a gift worth fighting for.
It was during his triumph at Zambia that Patson first met Enock Mwepu. The then 14-year-old threaded his passes down the pitch with machine-like accuracy, which is why he was called “the computer”.
Now Patson knew what – or rather, whom – people had been warning him about. But he didn’t want to destroy Enock. Instead, the two became friends for life.
Both Zambian football players come from similar experiences. Enock was born in Lusaka, but then moved with his parents to the mining city of Chambishi. His father, Robby, worked for one of the numerous copper-mining companies and today, his parents are farmers.
In 2017, Patson Daka moved from Zambia to Austria. As a new signing for FC Red Bull Salzburg, he started playing for its feeder club, FC Liefering, in the Second League, the second level of Austrian football. He was just 19, in a totally new cultural situation, and he missed home. “It’s hard when you’re first away from home, alone in a foreign country, for a long time,” he says. “I was terribly homesick.”
Six months after he moved to Austria, his friend Enock joined him. “That was such a release for me,” says Patson. “When Enock arrived, I stopped missing home. In those first months in Salzburg, we shared a room at the Red Bull Football Academy in Liefering. We spent all our free time together. We spoke about everything that was on our minds.”
Patson Daka explains about what was in his mind, “For me, there were just three things: football, school and church.” His friend, the like-minded Enock, says “We very quickly understood that we work really well together on the pitch.” He adds, “The better we got to know each other, the more we fought for each other out there and the more easily success came to us.”
Their results emphasize what they say. That same year, they won the Africa U-20 Cup of Nations with the Zambian national team. Patson Daka netted the first goal in the final against Senegal, in front of 60,000 football fans. The final result of the game was 2-0. The Zambian youngster netted four goals in the tournament in total. He was chosen as the player of the tournament and celebrated as a teen impression.
Patson Daka’s success continued when he played for FC Red Bull Salzburg, too.
In 2017, Patson Daka won the UEFA Youth League – the Champions League for under-19 teams – with Salzburg. He again netted in the final match. With the first team, Patson Daka continued to win the Austrian Cup in 2019 and 2020, and the Austrian Bundesliga in 2018, 2019 and 2020. Patson Daka became Salzburg’s top scorer with 24 goals last season.
While Patson was drawing the attention Enock their friendship continued his friendship. Enock says, “It has always been greatly inspiring for me to see how far Patson has come on. It’s given me the motivation to train and work harder to achieve the things he has. He has always been the leader in our team, and I wanted to be like him.”
And he was grateful to Enock for the support. “I was incredibly lucky to have a ‘computer’ on my side,” he says. “All I had to do was convert his amazing passes into goals. Enock made life incredibly easy for me.”
The vigour that both youngsters bring with them is attested to by FC Red Bull Salzburg’s Director of Sports, Christoph Freund. “Enock and Patson have all the qualities required for top-flight, world-class football,” he says. “They are both level-headed and ambitious. I’m sure they’re going to cause quite a stir.”
Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka are already good players in Zambia. When they go home on holiday, they leave the house while causing traffic chaos. President Lungu is still a huge fan of the pair. When it was proclaimed that Patson and Enock were being kept on at Salzburg, the head of state tweeted the news right away. And when football fans voted Patson the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Championship Round for 2019-20 season, Lungu congratulated him personally on his Facebook page: “You make Zambia proud!”
“Young footballers see what we’re capable of,” says Enock Mwepu of his and Patson Daka’s status as role models. “They give it all they’ve got so that they too can take the next step.”
Patson becomes thoughtful for a moment. “We have a problem in Zambia with young people and alcohol and other drugs,” he clarifies. “Football is a wonderful opportunity to stay away from all that.” Enock completes his thought: “You avoid the vicious circle altogether if you play football all day and collapse into bed exhausted in the evening.”
Enock Mwepu and Patson Daka are both very religious and call their sporting skills a divine gift. And Patson and Enock think the same when they say that they are very serious about putting that gift to use well.
Serious is the effective word. A gift is a gift, but success comes off the back of hard work every day, they both describe. “We both want to be better footballers,” Before revealing his dream Enock Mwepu says, “to one day be on opposing teams in the Champions League Final”.
Patson nods in agreement, thinks for a moment, and adds, “Even then, we’ll still be friends.”
Patson Daka achievements
Red Bull Salzburg
Austrian Bundesliga in 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
Austrian Cup in 2018–19, 2019–20
UEFA Youth League in 2016–17
International
Zambia U20
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations in 2017
COSAFA U-20 Cup in 2016
Individual
Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Best Player in 2017
CAF Youth Player of the Year in 2017
Zambia Sportsman of the Year in 2017
Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Season in 2019–20
Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Championship Round in 2019–20
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