MUKWIMA CHILALA writes
IT is not easy to score that many goals especially in Europe and hence there is need to respect Patson Daka for showing character, Former National Soccer team coach Nchimunya Mweetwa has said.
And Mweetwa has praised Daka for showing a strong character after having endured insults a few seasons ago from Zambian fans while on the books of Power Dynamos during which he underwent a dry spell.
Daka increased his goal tally in the Austrian Tipico League after he scored his 24 goal over the weekend, a tally that makes him the first Zambian to record such a feat in any European league and is second on the top scorers charts to Tom Welshman who has 26 goals.
Mweetwa scored eighteen goals in the 2007 season while on the books of ROPS in Finland the closest a Zambian got to reaching the twenty goal mark in a European league.
Previously Former National Team striker Mwap Miti scored 19 goals for Odense in the Danish League in the 2002/03 Season.
But Mweetwa noted that scoring in Europe was no joke and hence Daka needed to be saluted and that being ranked 13th deadliest striker in the same category as big names in Ronaldo and Messi was no mean achievement.
“What Patson has done needs to be aspplauded because 24 goals in a season is not easy. This boy today has been ranked as the thirteenth striker where Ronaldo and Messi are so we need to respect that,’’ Mweetwa said.
“If you look at this boy ( Daka) two to three seasons ago, he used to be insulted but his mental strength is what has kept him going and today he is there scoring goals .He is a strong lad and I for one I have so much respect for him.”
Daka is on the hunt for a top scorers award in the Austrian Tipicoleague having now scored 24 goals and only second to Wolvesburg’sShom Welshman .
