Patrick Daka
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Patrick Taurai Daka | ||
| Date of birth | 6 September 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Harare, Zimbabwe | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder/Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2002–2003 | Western Baptist College | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–1998 | Black Aces | 50 | (21) |
| 1998–1999 | Darryn T | 38 | (4) |
| 1999–2000 | Amazulu FC | 38 | (12) |
| 1995–1996 | Hessen Kassel, Germany | 19 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Cascade Surge | 20 | (10) |
| 2004–2010 | Charlotte Eagles | 101 | (14) |
| National team | |||
| Zimbabwe U-23 | 6 | ||
| Zimbabwe | 16 | ||
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 August 2010. | |||
Patrick Daka (born 6 September 1975 in Harare) is an Zimbabwean footballer who last played for Charlotte Eagles in the USL Second Division.
Career
Early Career in Zimbabwe
Daka began his career in his native Zimbabwe, playing for Black Aces and Darryn T in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, before moving to play for Hessen Kassel in Germany and back again to Zimbabwean sides Amazulu FC[1] and Blackpool in the Zimbabwean Premier Soccer League from 1999 through 2001.
College
Daka moved to the United States in 2001, and subsequently played two years of college soccer at Western Baptist College (now Corban University), where he earned many honours 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 in the USL Premier Development League.[2]
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 Eagles in the Pro Soccer League in 2004, and has been with the team ever since. He made his professional debut on 15 May 2004, scoring a goal in Charlotte's 3–2 win over the Northern Virginia Royals.[3] He has since gone on to make more than 100 appearances for the Eagles.
Daka was not listed on the 2011 roster for Charlotte.[4] He is now on the club's coaching staff.
International
Daka is a former full member of the Zimbabwe national football team, having played for the Warriors in the COSAFA Cup in 1998 and 1999, World Cup qualifiers, African Cup qualifiers, and in numerous friendlies.
Personal life
Daka now coaches youth soccer at Charlotte Soccer Academy and offers camps for youth throughout the year.