After Erling Håland left Red Bull Salzburg in the winter transfer window, Patson Daka stepped into his boots as the team's new leading forward.
It's not easy to substitute a player that scored 16 league goals in just a few months, but the Zambian talent found the net 22 times, and now he is aiming for the Bundesliga top scorer title.
Patson Daka was marked as a hot prospect when he was just a schoolboy. At the age of 14, Daka had trials for a nationwide tournament for youth in Zambia sponsored by the African telecom company, Airtel. It took only 10 minutes until the coaches told him that he would be part of his region's team. His talent was so remarkable that later he was part of the Zambian side for Airtel's continental tournament. Zambia finished second and Daka was the top scorer.
Daka is part of a young and talented generation Zambian players. Three years ago, when he was 19, he led Zambia to win the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations. Zambia made an outstanding U-20 World Cup campaign, with wins against Portugal and Germany, only to be defeated by Italy in the quarter finals.
His first chance in Europe came after being loaned in 2017 to Liefering, Salzburg's feeder club from the second division in Austria. In no time, Daka was part of Red Bull Salzburg’s squad. The club was known for its prolific scorers and talented youngsters that became well known players. In 9 out of the last 13 seasons, it was a Salzburg player who won the Austrian Bundesliga top scorer award .
Salzburg had a major change this season in its front line, which led the 21-year-old Daka to his current spot. It began more than a year ago, when Munas Dabbur, the league's top scorer in the last two seasons, left for Sevilla. At the beginning of the season, Daka was one of the team's scorers, but he couldn't compete with Erling Håland. In January, the Norwegian striker left for Borussia Dortmund. Another key player, Takumi Minamino, signed with Liverpool. The young Zambian became the key player of the team.
Patson Daka felt comfortable with his new role, thanks to Jesse Marsch and his game philosophy. "He is still young, and it is important that he doesn't let his confidence be affected by this game," said Marsch about Daka. Earlier this week, Daka scored a hat-trick, and he is currently in second place of the top scorers list with 22 goals after the Israeli striker Shon Weissman of Wolfsberger. "Since Håland left, everyone wants to take the challenge," said Marsch.
Daka himself can be proud of his record - 22 league goals, one every 61 minutes, but he knows that there are inevitable comparisons. "I'm not the next anything," said Daka in a recent interview for The Guardian. "There will only be one Håland, and there will be only one Patson."
When he speaks about his role in Salzburg, he knows that he is in the right place for him. Playing in the team that already developed African superstars like Sadio Mané and Naby Keïta. "To see how they made a name for themselves here gives me confidence and I feel like: 'OK, this is the right place for me.'" Daka wishes to make the next step, but he still has more to learn. "It wasn't easy to come from Africa and be exposed to a different kind of development. I never imagined myself making the kind of big step I have here."
With seven matches left until the end of the season, Red Bull Salzburg leads by 7 points thanks to the six points LASK lost for violating the coronavirus regulations. They are getting closer to win their seventh consecutive titles. In this situation, Patson Daka can get ready for his next step on the way to becoming one of the best players Zambia has ever produced, maybe even the greatest.
Thumbnail photo by Patson Daka official Facebook page
