Rangers star Fashion Sakala might be emerging as a hero in the Ibrox support, but alongside two Premier League stars, he’s already an icon in homeland Zambia.
Sakala, 24, joined Rangers from Belgian side KV Oostende in the summer and banged in a hat-trick against Motherwell in a 6-1 win, announcing himself at Ibrox in the process.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPhYAQUO540
The result and Fashion’s performance sent a bit of a shockwave around the player’s native Zambia and fans aplenty were buzzing online following the striker’s treble.
That included Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, who thanked Sakala for a “special welcome to Scotland” following his arrival ahead of COP26 in Glasgow.
Zambia are a football mad nation of around 20m and famously won the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations against all odds, the first time the country had done so.
Now, attentions turn to a new generation in Zambian football and Sakala is very much part of that alongside a £41m Premier League pair who also moved to the UK this summer.
Fashion Sakala one of three main emerging players for Zambia
Patson Daka, 23, joined Leicester City in a reported £23m deal this summer [Sky Sports], joining the Premier League club from RB Salzburg following an impressive haul of 68 goals in 125 games.
Whilst it hasn’t quite happened in the Premier League for the striker as of yet, Daka netted four goals on Europa League duty in a match against Spartak Moscow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5SPrFlzC_I
Enock Mwepu is another emerging name in Zambian football and this summer broke Brighton’s transfer record in an £18m move this summer [Daily Mail].
Mwepu also joins the Premier League from RB Salzburg and the energetic midfielder has the ability to both score and assist with high hopes for his development down south.
The midfielder’s latest goall came via a stunning long-range effort during Seagull’s comeback 2-2 draw with Liverpool at Anfield.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68gHkKKxhLI
All three players are the emerging golden generation of Zambian football and fans are delighted to see their boys begin to settle in the British game.
Not only does it speak volumes that Fashion is amongst the three players regarded as Zambia’s brightest talents, but it also says something about the potential value of the striker to Rangers.
Signed on a pre-contract from Belgian football, the combined £41m it took to bring Daka and Mwepu to England should raise an eyebrow or two in Scotland.
Rangers fans have also been belting out an instant classic which celebrates the emerging success of their Zambian hero.
