CONGRATULATIONS PATSON DAKA

Dear Editor, ZAMBIA national soccer team and former RB Salzburg striker Patson Daka recently signed a five-year football contract with the England Premier League outfit, Leicester City. Patson is a prolific striker whose football skills will be appreciated at Leicester. Patson is one of the Zambian players to ply his trade in Europe.  Others are Collins Mbesuma and Emmanuel Mayuka who played for Portsmouth and Southampton respectively. The unfortunate part is that the duo did not make a mark. Patson came in the limelight during the 2017 Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations football tournament which was hosted by Zambia at National Heroes Stadium. Zambia subsequently won the football tournament. Patson was one of the key players who played a significant role at the tournament. In addition Patson and his friend, Enock Mwepu guided RB Salzburg, the Austrian outfit to win the four season titles. This was not a small achievement. Patson has made Zambia proud by clinching a professional football stint at Leicester City. It is my fervent wish and prayer that he will perform exceptionally well at his new club. Patson’s move to his new club will ultimately inspire some Zambian players to work hard and clinch professional football stints in Europe where the leagues are competitive. The enefits for mother Zambia is that it will raise the bar of the plummeted football standards at all levels in the local league. All said and done, Patson as people’s hero in football is really inspiring to other footballers in Zambia. I wish Patson all the best in his football career at Leicester City. ELEMIYA PHIRI,                                Lusaka.