City didn’t just sign Daka - but 17 million Zambians as well!
NEW STRIKER IS TALISMAN FOR AFRICAN HOMELAND
WHEN Leicester City paid £23 million to RB Salzburg this summer, they didn’t just sign Patson Daka, but more than 17 million Zambians too.
City’s new striker is his country’s talisman and his move to the King Power Stadium even prompted good luck messages from the nation’s then president.
Daka, who could make his second start for the club in tonight’s Carabao Cup clash with Millwall, is aware that he is representing an entire population every time he steps onto the pitch.
“Leicester City has a lot of Zambian fans now!” he told the club last week. “Some of them probably supported a different team before, but now they’ve changed to being Leicester City fans.
“It’s amazing to see the support I receive from back home. I’m not here just for myself, I’m here to represent my country. That’s something I always remember. It isn’t all about me.
“The people back home feel so much pride, it’s amazing. Hopefully Leicester will be happy that they have so many new Zambian fans!”
Daka’s chances have so far been limited at City, with the 22-year-old only starting once, in last week’s 2-2 draw with Napoli, and making two appearances off the bench, in the Community Shield at Wembley, and in the 4-1 defeat to West Ham.
Manager Brendan Rodgers has previously said he will be given a season to adjust, but Daka believes the set-up at former club RB Salzburg has prepared him well for the switch, not least the culture of winning that allowed him to lift four straight Austrian league titles during his time there.
“We played at a very high intensity at Red Bull,” he said. “Even the training sessions, they were exactly the same.
“At Red Bull it’s all about pressing and running.
“I think that has helped me here, because there isn’t a huge difference like there perhaps is with some other teams and leagues.
“It was one of the reasons why I came here (continuing the winning mentality from Salzburg).
“The club has a winning mentality and they always want to compete.
“It’s a special feeling. When you win, you just want more of it.
“I was blessed that my first game for Leicester ended with silverware in the Community Shield, so that was a great start. I’m looking forward to more of that, hopefully.
“We just need to keep working hard, because anything is possible in football.”