Zambian football has produced various famous footballers for over half a decade since professional soccer took off in the Southern African nation. For most of these players, their trade brought fame and glory to themselves and their teams.
In this article, we explore the career of some famous Zambian soccer stars today who are earning way beyond most other players from the country. We also answer questions like who is the richest footballer in Zambia? Besides playing in well-known clubs internationally or locally, these soccer stars are Zambia’s most valuable athletes.
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Top 3 richest footballers in Zambia
1. Patson Daka
Annual income – £3,230,000
A week’s salary – £75,000
Football club – Leicester City, Forward
O(ne of the richest player in Zambia. Born in October 1998 in Kafue to a father who once played as a winger for local side Kafue-based Nitrogen Stars, Zambia. Daka is perhaps the most famous and richest footballer in Zambia right now. He plays for EFL Championship side Leicester City and the Zambian National team. He joined Leicester City on a transfer from Austrian Bundesliga side Red Salsburg.
In the 2020/21 season, Daka registered 27 goals and 7 assists in 28 league matches. His feats earned the award of the Austrian Bundesliga Player of the Season Year in the 2020/21 season. His Austrian Bundesliga heroics earned him a contract with the then-Premier League Side Leicester City on a five-year deal for a reported fee of £23 million.
Daka scored four goals in a 4-3 win over Spartak Moscow during a 2020/21 UEFA Europa League match against Spartak Moscow, becoming the first Desert Fox to do so in a match since 1958. On 25 November 2021, he became the team’s all-time leading scorer in European competition after scoring in a 3-1 Europa League victory over Legia Warsaw.
He debuted for the senior national team in a 2-0 friendly win over Malawi in 2015. He was part of the side that lifted the 2017 AFCON U-20 trophy as well as the COSAFA U-20 Cup. In 2016, after his AFCON U-20 heroics, Daka received the as17 CAF Young Player of the Year award. His earnings grow in proportion to his performance.
2. Lamech Banda
Annual income – €640,000
A week’s salary – €12,308
Football club – Lecce, Winger
Born in January 2001, Lamech Banda is a Zambian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Serie A side Leece and the Zambian national team. He began his international club career by signing for Russian Premier League club FC Arsenal Tula in July 2019. Afterward, he signed on loan for Israeli side Maccabi Netanya, till May 2021. However, his spell in Israel wasn’t to end after the loan, as Lamech joined Maccabi Petah Tikva on a season-long loan.
It wasn’t until August 2022 that Banda found his way to newly-promoted Serie A side U.S. Leece on a permanent four-year deal. This deal made him the first Zambian player to ever feature in a Serie A match. On the international front, Banda has featured for Zambia at the U-17, U-20, and U-23 levels. However, his debut for the senior Zambia national team waited until March 2022, during a friendly 3-1 win over Congo. His current transfer value is between 6 million EUR and 9.9 million EUR (and a net worth of $1m – $5m). He is rich and very popular in his country and abroad.
3. Fashion Sakala
Annual income – $1 Million – $5 Million
A week’s salary – Under Review
Football club – Al-Fayha, Forward
Fashion Sakala is one of the most renowned football players in Zambia. He plays as a forward for the Scottish Premiership side and the Zambian National Team. Born on 14 March 1997 in Chipata, Zambia, the forward began his football career in 2015 while playing for the Nchanga Rangers, where he netted a total of 23 goals in the 2015/26 season.
The next season, Junior fielded the Zanaco team and netted 11 goals. After his spell in his home side, Sakala’s skill led him outside the shores of his country to Russian Premier League side FC Spartak Moscow in 2017. Spartak signed a 3-year contract with Sakala, but Belclub Oostende came during the three years to sign another 3-year contract with the Zambian international in July 2018. By 2021, Sakala headed to Scottish Premiership club Rangers, signing a four-year deal to last till 2025 with the side.
Sakala debuted for the Zambian National Team on 2 September during a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Algeria. The skipper celebrated his debut for himself and his team with a hat trick, drawing various conversations within and outside the country.
Zambian also featured for his country’s U-20 team, playing in the U-20 FIFA World Cup. Sakala has a net worth of at least $1.5 million. But considering his age and considerable game time ahead of him, Sakala has high stakes of increasing his wealth in the coming years.
Other Notable Mentions
Several other players have earned themselves both fame and wealth through their professional football careers, including:
- Kings Kangwa – Crvena Zvezda
- Edward Chilufya – Midtjulland
- Emmanuel Banda – Rijeka
- Evfans Kangwa – Qungdao Hainiu
- christopher katongo
Kings Kangwa, who currently plays for Crvena Zvezda, has made a name for himself with his exceptional skills on the field. Edward Chilufya, who represents Midtjulland, is another rising star who has caught the attention of many scouts and fans alike.
Emmanuel Banda, a player for Rijeka, has shown immense talent and potential throughout his career. Lastly, Evfans Kangwa, who plays for Qungdao Hainiu, has proven to be a valuable asset to his team with his remarkable abilities. These players have worked hard to reach the pinnacle of success in their football journeys and continue to inspire aspiring young talents with their achievements.
Christopher Katongo and Joseph Musonda, both former Zambian football players, are also well-known figures in the football world.
Conclusion
It is hard to say with certainty who the richest football player in Zambia is, but we can agree that all the players above have brought not just fame to their clubs and country, but also wealth to themselves and their families. While we expect these players’ fortunes to increase as they ply their profession and improve on the pitch, Zambia expects more players to join the line-up of famous and wealthy soccer stars soon.