Meet two of Zambia's brightest young talents who are shaping the future of Zambian athletics with their incredible speed, skill and determination. Sprinter Suwilanji 'Speedy' Mpondela and footballer Patson 'Goal Poacher' Daka are all still under 26, but are already making their mark in their respective sports.
From national team captains to championship medal winners, these young stars show how the next generation is lifting Zambian athletics to new heights. If you want to predict their results, do that with the trusted bookies, such as betlion zambia, review at the link, and join us as we highlight the meteoric achievements of these three outstanding athletes under 26, and see how they are blazing a trail for Zambian sports.
'Goal Poacher' Patson Daka: Fox in the Box.
Patson "Goal Poacher" Daka (October 9, 1998) has turned fox hunting into big business. Starting his career as a 12-year-old at Kafue Celtic, Daka's scoring talents were soon snapped up by top Zambian league clubs.
After banging in goals on the continental youth stage, "Goal Poacher" joined Austrian team Red Bull Salzburg, where his scoring only accelerated. He netted over 60 goals in just a few seasons.
Daka's fox-in-the-box instincts caught the attention of Leicester City, who paid a club record $30 million to bring the striker to the Premier League. Just months after his debut, Daka is already bagging goals for the Foxes.
On the international stage, "Goal Poacher" Daka was a captain of the Zambian national team. With 1 goal and an assist in AFCON he became the best player at the Chipolopolo side. If Leicester City lifts a Premier League trophy sometime soon, it may just have this dragon's fingerprints on it.
'Speedy' Suwilanji Mpondela: Taking the Baton
When sprinter Suwilanji "Speedy" Mpondela (February 7, 2000) takes off down the track, there's no catching her. As the daughter of the president of the Zambia Athletics Association, "Speedy" had running in her blood from the start.
In 2015, Mpondela clocked a speedy 12.81 secs in the 100m at just 15 years old. She has been blazing down the tracks to snatch medals at championships across Africa ever since.
Still just in her early 20s, Mpondela made history in 2019 by becoming the youngest ever chair of the Zambian Olympic Committee's Athlete Commission. Oh, and she also married Zambian national team star Patson Daka that year - not a bad personal record!
Today, "Speedy" is part of the Zambian sprint relay team gunning for Olympic gold. After setting a new national record last year, this dynamo runner has her sights set on Tokyo. Can she bring Zambian athletics a much-deserved medal in Paris-2024?
Roaring Onwards
At just 23 and 25 years old, Mpondela and Daka have already etched their names in Zambian sports history. Their energy, passion and dedication prove that Zambia's next generation of talent can shine on the global stage.
With their dragon-like determination, there is no doubt that these young stars will continue breaking boundaries and inspiring youth in their home country. Under the age of 26, their greatest achievements still likely lie ahead. One thing is certain - with rising athletes like these, the future of Zambian athletics looks bright indeed!