As Rangers star Fashion Sakala opened his account with the Ibrox club against Motherwell, no-one will be more disappointed than the striker himself the club never managed to secure all three points.
The pacey forward and summer signing from KV Oostende has had a slow start to his Ibrox career as he adjusts to life in Glasgow and initially nursed a groin injury.
But whilst that goal was a huge confidence booster for Fashion, the coverage of it in his homeland is evidence of the reputational potential the player holds for Rangers in Zambia and beyond.
An inspiration for his country, Sakala’s story from poverty to Ibrox Stadium is an emotional one and his progress under Steven Gerrard is being watched closely.
After opening his account for the Gers, Sakala’s goal was covered by the likes of the Lukasa Times in Zambia and the South Africa-based African Football website.
Combine the interest in Sakala with that already in Nigeria with regards Joe Aribo and Leon Balogun, and its clear Rangers’ are developing a bigger presence on the African continent.
The interest from his homeland and beyond is something that Fashion is well aware of and the striker touched on his influence in Zambia as he previewed the match with Livingston.
“It’s something that has helped me to keep going,” said Sakala [Rangers].
“Looking at where I have come from, I have been a role model to a lot of people. People just didn’t think a football player would come from there.
“But I have made it to reach this level, and I believe I am still going. And being a role model is something that helps me to keep going.
“I believe I have to stay disciplined and I have to stay committed to the work – and work extra hard – so I continue inspiring a lot of people from my area in the country.
“That gives me more courage and confidence to work extra hard, to be that role model for a long period of time in my country.
“It’s a very big responsibility and I think it is helping me because if I didn’t have to consider it as a responsibility then maybe I would have been acting badly and not committing myself to hard work or not being positive.
“So I think the responsibility I am carrying on my shoulders makes me stay on a positive straight line, keep going forward and keep working extra hard.”
A well-spoken and infectiously positive character, Rangers fans have endeared themselves to the forward and are desperate for him to make a success of it at Ibrox.
