Fashion Sakala

Who is Fashion Sakala?

Junior Fashion Sakala is a Zambian striker who plays for Scottish Premiership outfit Rangers and the Zambia national team.

In February 2017, he signed a three-year deal with the Russian Premier League outfit Spartak Moscow which was expected to run to 30 June 2020.

The following year, he signed a three-year deal with the Belgian club Oostende. On 4 May 2021, with the contract expiring in the summer, he signed a pre-contract agreement with the Gers on a four-year deal.

Fashion made his debut for his country’s national team on 2 September 2017 in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier versus Algeria and was sent off for two bookings in the 56th minute.

Sakala also featured for the Zambia U20 team that won the Afcon in 2017, scoring three goals.

The attacker made the U20 team that featured in the FIFA World Cup and were knocked out in the quarter-finals, netting four goals in the tournament.

What a difficult childhood Fashion Sakala had?

The forward explained that when he was growing up, he’d often have to hunt wild animals in order to give food for his family.

So humble are Fashion’s beginnings that he’d sometimes go for several days without a meal because his parents couldn’t afford to provide for the family.

His resilience has now seen the star become the first Zambian player ever to play in the Scottish Premiership.

His determination and commitment to succeed as a football player were clear from an early age – his first trial saw Sakala cycling for eight hours from his village and still managed to score eight goals in the match.

What are his strengths and weaknesses?

Fashion is quick, and he offers a threat behind defences. Sakala can finish with either foot, and the striker moves well to give variants to his teammates.

However, the Zambian’s dribbling, first touch and composure in front of the goal are areas to work on.

He is a two-footed centre-forward who excels when making clever runs out wide and deep while also making himself present to engage in the link-up play.

He lacks some composure in front of the goal, which reducing his threat. Some inconsistent dribbling also restricts his effectiveness as Fashion ventures wide and can result in turnovers.