183 cm of power • Almost equal kick in both legs • Amazing movement without a ball • Extraordinary speed • And ice flowing in his veins • Maccabi, pay attention: the formidable striker of Red Bull Salzburg
Dhaka last night in Bloomfield.
A wonderful striker
Photo:
Ami fat
When you search in the dictionary for an interpretation of the word "improvement", you get two prominent meanings: making something better and raising value, especially of an asset.
If there is one group that has become synonymous with this concept in recent years it is Red Bull Salzburg.
Sadio Mane, Nabi Keita, Tacomi Minamino, Monas Dabour, Arling Holland - these are the standout players who have become what they are today a lot thanks to the Austrian champion for the past seven years.
After Holland left for Dortmund in January, that was the moment when the next big prospect got into things - Patterson Dhaka.
Like quite a few actors from the African continent, Dhaka (raised in Zambia) is considered a Cinderella story that went through a not-so-simple life.
He came to the pitches for the first time to watch his footballer father, and there are most of his childhood memories.
Unfortunately, his father passed away when he was very young, and the desire to reach the top of world football comes from the pain he carries: "He did not have my opportunities today. I feel I am living his dream and along the way also creating my own legacy. It motivates me every time, And I'm sure my father was proud of me. "
Dhaka celebrates with Dabour. Shortly before he also advances to the senior league // Photo: Gettyimages
In January 2017, Dhaka came to Red Bull's subsidiary team, Leipring from the Second Division, who loaned him from his zombie team Capua Celtic.
Two months later he marched his team to win the African Under-20 Championship and on the way won the title of tournament player.
His agent and former player Freddie Canuta recommended Salzburg give him a chance - and the Austrians jumped on the bargain in July 2017. Since then he has managed to sweep its youth team to a Champions League win and won two championships and two trophies with the senior team.
Dan Kabwa, his coach at the beginning of the road, is not surprised by his ascent: "When I first saw him, Thierry Henry came to mind. In a short time he proved that he has the abilities to reach the highest levels in world football."
Dhaka vs. Liverpool in training match // Photo: AFP
Click, click, click
The big break came just last year, when Dhaka scored 27 goals and added 12 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions.
He was the vice-king of goals in the Austrian league, second only to Sean Weissman, which caused quite a few scouts from around the world to put his name in their notebook.
This year he has only played three games so far, but that hasn’t stopped him from scoring six times.
After the game against Wolfsberger in the opening round of the league, Dhaka referred to the comparisons he gets to Mana and the Netherlands: "The player I am being compared to does not exist, it is someone I am trying to create," said the zombie, who insists on relieving himself of unnecessary pressure.
Although Maccabi Tel Aviv did not absorb a goal this season in Europe, after the league games against Maccabi Petah Tikva and Bnei Yehuda, the back squad of Giorgos Donis received a lot of criticism for its performance.
And with all this, and of course because of the outbreak of the corona in Kiryat Shalom, the Yellows will have to pay close attention to the rival striker.
Dhaka can score almost equally on both feet, he has impressive composure in front of goal, incredible movement without the ball and exceptional speed.
His 183 centimeters and tremendous physical strength allow him to constantly press the rival defense.
The left-back who will start tonight in the 11-man squad for Donis will have a lot of work to do, as the zombie is not one of the strikers waiting in the box.
He likes to step out of his comfort zone to earn balls, and usually does so on the right wing.
So Salzburg is expected to sail again to the championship in her country, so Dhaka is striving to attract most of the attention in the European arena, and it is better for him that it be in the senior factory - the Champions League.
It is very possible that at least for him, the pair of games against Maccabi Tel Aviv is the most important.
