Tanzania international Striker Mbwana Ally Samatta has made
headlines in the world of sports this week, even as he pens down a new deal at
Aston Villa.
The English Premier League side on Tuesday completed a
four-and-a-half year deal with the striker from Belgium side Genk.
The 27-year-old will be pocketing £8.5 million ($11 million)
per week.
During his time at Belgium league, he scored 10 goals for
Genk in all competitions this season, including against Liverpool in the
Champions League at Anfield, reports AFP.
Villa manager Dean Smith said he hopes Mbwana will bring the
same results to EPL.
“I’m really pleased we have managed to bring Mbwana to
the club. He has scored goals throughout his career and I’m looking forward to
working with him,” said the manager.
Profile
Mbwana becomes the first Tanzanian player to play in the top
competitive league, –the English Premier League.
Who is
Mbwana Samatta?
Mbwana Ally Samatta is a Tanzanian professional footballer
who plays as a striker in the Tanzania national team. Samatta began his career
as a youth player for Mbagala Football Club Lyon FC in 2008.
Which teams
has Mbwana played for?
Mbwana’s professional football was realized in 2010 while
playing for Simba Sports Club, he later moved to TP Mazembe, spending a total
of five years there.
In 2016, Samatta signed for Belgian side K.R.C. Genk, leading
them to the UEFA Europa League and winning the Belgian Jupiler League in 2019. He
finished the season as the top goal scorer of the Jupiler League and won the
Ebony Shoe award in Belgium for his outstanding season with Genk.
In January 2020, he signed a four-and-a-half year deal with
Premier League club Aston Villa.
Mbwana’s
awards and achievements
He was named the 2015 African based Player of the Year, and
finished the season as the top goal scorer of the CAF Champions League, after
helping TP Mazembe to win the title.
In January 2016, he became the first East African player to
be crowned the CAF African Player of the Year, during the Glo-CAF Award gala
which took place on 7 January 2016 at the International Conference Centre in
Abuja, Nigeria.
In May 2019, the striker was awarded with the Ebony Shoe
award for his exploits during the 2018-19 Belgium First Division campaign.
Mbwana has played 20 matches in Belgian Pro League, scoring
seven (7) goals, and 6 matches in UEFA Champions League, scoring three (3)
goals this season.
