Patrick Daka
Encyclopedia
Patrick Daka is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
) is an Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an footballer who last played for Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the USL Second Division
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
.
Early Career in Zimbabwe
Daka began his career in his native Zimbabwe, playing for Black Aces and Darryn T in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer LeagueZimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, also known as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top professional division of the Zimbabwe Football Association, it was created in 1980, as a successor to the 1962 formed Rhodesia National Football League.The League consists of 16...
, before moving to play for Hessen Kassel in Germany and back again to Zimbabwean sides AmaZulu and Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
from 1999 through 2001.
College
Daka moved to the United States in 2001, and subsequently played two years of college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at Western Baptist College (now Corban University), where he earned many honors including NAIA All-American, College Male Athlete of the Year, NAIA National Championship Most Outstanding Offensive Player and All-Conference Honors. During his college years he also played with Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge
Cascade Surge was an American soccer team based in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1995, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2009, when the franchise folded and the team left the league.The team played its home games...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
At age 19, Daka signed with Hessen Kassel F.C in Germany in 1995 and played two seasons with them. He played games against Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich and Stuttgart to name a few scoring a magical goal in the 90 minute against Borussia Dortmund in Kassel. His first USA signing was with the Charlotte EaglesCharlotte Eagles
Charlotte Eagles is an American professional soccer team based in Charlotte, North Carolina, United States. Founded in 1991, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
in the Pro Soccer League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
in 2004, and has been with the team ever since. He made his professional debut on May 15, 2004, scoring a goal in Charlotte's 3-2 win over the Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals
Northern Virginia Royals is an American soccer team based in Woodbridge, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1998, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the South Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference.The team plays its home...
. He has since gone on to make more than 100 appearances for the Eagles.
Daka was not listed on the 2011 roster for Charlotte.
He is now on the club's coaching staff.
International
Daka is a former full member of the Zimbabwe national football teamZimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
, having played for the Warriors in the COSAFA Cup
COSAFA Cup
The COSAFA Senior Challenge is an annual tournament for teams from Southern Africa organized by COSAFA, inaugurated after the ban against the Republic of South Africa had been lifted and the African Cup of Nations had been staged there in 1996...
in 1998 and 1999, World Cup qualifers, African Cup qualifiers, and in numerous friendlies.