By Kalumiana Kalumiana
Patson Daka has received praise from his Leicester City coach Gary Rowett after overcoming a long trip from Chipolopolo duty away in Argentina on Wednesday to score a brace on Friday for the English Championship club.
Daka scored two goals in Leicester’s 2-2 home draw against fellow strugglers Preston.
His goal exploits came after featuring for Chipolopolo in last Tuesday’s friendly against FIFA World Cup champions Argentina which Zambia lost 5-0 away in Buenos Aires.
But on Friday for Leicester, the Chipolopolo striker had better fortunes and scored the games opening goal in the 4th minute.
However, Preston hit back to take a two-one halftime lead.
Daka then salvaged a point for Leicester in the 81st minute but was replaced in the 88th minute due to an injury for Ghanaian Jordan Ayew.
“He’s been on a flight from Argentina to Chile, Chile to Paris, Paris to England, and then in a car to a training ground, then trained yesterday morning and played with that much energy,” Rowett said.
“I think it was quite outstanding.
“I saw him training yesterday (Thursday) and felt as though he had good energy, so I didn’t think it was a massive problem.
“Pato (Daka) is so quick and so direct that I thought he might get into some good positions. So it was quite an early decision to start him.”
Daka’s brace took his tally to 5 league goals this season, four in total in 2026 while one came in cup action in January.
Leicester are back in action this afternoon in a bottom-three match away against last- placed Sheffield Wednesday.
