Patson Daka has risen from a player hated for a perceived failure to deliver to a Uefa Youth league champion.

The Zambia U20 national team striker plays for Liefering fc in Austria (Reserve side for Redbull playing in the second tier of the Austrian league. Patson is a centre forward and uses both legs. Quick on both feet and he is very good in the air.

The lethal centre forward rose from humble beginnings in Kafue and due to his scoring prowess he quickly rose through the ranks despite his young age.

Nchanga Rangers scooped him up in 2015 and was a great sensation to watch. Making a great striking partnership with his fellow U20 National team striker Fashion Sakala.

Patson led the U17 national team to Niger 2015 U17 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with five goals in qualifiers ( highest by any player). A feet that  earned him praise from his coach then Chris Kaunda.

“The boy is a genius. So we know what he can do, he is very intelligent, he can take on anyone and play at any level but for now we have to be very careful how we handle him,” said Kaunda

The tournament was not a big success but the young Strker netted twice in 3 games.

The young striker was then called from one national team to the next rarely spending time at the his club. As you would expect it took a toll on him and his performance went down as he was just a 16 year old playing for Zambia U17, U20, U23, CHAN bound squad and the senior national team.

This did not sit well with the fans who called him all sorts of names, As unfair as it was to the young lad, the fans just found it odd that a 16 year old could be that “liked” by coaches as thhey could not see what the coaches saw.

2016 came with a new challenge as he was signed by Power Dynamos. The poor national team performances continued as he was still acclimatizing to the new set-up. The fans voice was finally heard and the coaches started overlooking him.

The first half of the 2016 season was a nightmare for the youngster who registered only one goal. The second half of 2016 started with Dan Kabwe being appointed as Power Dynamos head coach, a move that worked wonders for the youngster who went from a goal in the first half of the season to 12 at the end of the 2016 season.

It seems all the young man lacked was someone to motivate him, Something Kabwe did with easy. The master tactician is full of praise for the young goal poacher and even compared him to the great Godfrey Ucar Chitalu.

“Terrific player; look at his speed, look at his jumps, look at his shots. I think we have a Malaza (Kelvin Mutale) or ‘Ucar’ Godfrey Chitalu in the making,” Kabwe told reporters late last year.

The same 2016 he returned to the national team, this time with the U20 national team at the 2016 COSAFA U20 Championships where he scored two goals and helped Zambia win their 11th COSAFA title.

Late December 2016 he signed for Liefering a RedBull Salzburg feeder team that plays in the Austrian second division.

Having successfully made his switch Daka returned to Zambia in 2017 for the U20 Africa Cup of Nations tournament which Zambia won and he was crowned the MTN Player of the tournament with four goals to his name.

On Monday, 24 April, He came off the bench to score an equalizing goaal for RedBull Salzburg U19 who beat Benfica U19 in the final of the 2017 Uefa Youth league. Patson was only playing his second game in the tournament having come in as a substitute in the semi-final clash against Barcelona and scoring the winning goal.

He will be one of the key players for coach Beston Chambeshi at the U20 World Cup in south Korea next month. The story is just beginning  and maybe just maybe he might add a world cup to his name soon.

Short profile

Name: Patson Daka Jnr

Nick Name: PAPA

Date of Birth: 9th October 1998

Place of Birth: Kafue

Nationality: Zambian

Position: Forward

EDUCATION BACKGROUND

2002 – 2010-Grade 1 to Grade 9. He went to Kasenje basic shool.

2011 -2013-He went to Naboye High school. Grade 10 to Grade 12

Patson Daka rose from the compounds of Kafue Township. His father played for Nitrogen stars in Kafue in the early 90s. During his secondary school days, Patson represented his school and was later discovered by Lee Kawanu kafue Celtic Proprietor who later on recruited him in the Celtic Reserve side.

PERSONAL HONOURS

2013- Graduated to kafue celtic and scored 7 goals

2013-Top scorer Airtel Rising Stars represented Lusaka Province Zambia with 9 goals.

2015- Made his debut for Zambia as then coach George Lwandamina handed him a starting berth against Guinea Bissau at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

2016 – featured for Zambia at the CHAN tournament alongside the legends Chris Katongo and Isaac Chansa.

2016- Top Scorer at Power Dynamos Football club with 12 goals in all competitions

2016- Zambian Young Player of the year

2017- MTN/ U20 Africa Cup of Nations player of the tournament.

Total of 10 senior caps

Club honours

2017 Uefa Youth league

Country honours

2016 U20 COSAFA Championships

2017 U20 Africa Cup of Nations

TRANSFER ZONE

2007-2010 Played in the Kafue Celtic U14

2011- Joined the U17 Kafue Celtic nursery Division 2 side kafue fc

2013- Graduated to Kafue Celtic Division One

2014-Moved on loan from his Parent Club Kafue Celtic to Nchanga Rangers and spent one season

2015-July moved to Power Dynamos Fotball Club on loan

2017-January loaned

Liefering fc in Austria (Reserve side for Redbull playing in the second tier of the Austrian league)

Additional information by Chola Nicolas