Afroballers

Tanzania shines as Samatta joins Aston Villa.

The star of East Africa is shinning as Mbwana Samatta has joined the English side Aston Villa, becoming the first player from the country to play in England’s top football competition, the English Primer League.

Samatta penned down a four-year-long contract on January 20, 2020. Aston Villa who is 16th on the EPL table as of January 25, is worth 10 million Euros.

Mbwana Samatta forward of KRC Celta FC (77) battles for the ball with Iago Aspas forward of Celta de Vigo (L) and Gustavo Cabral defender of Celta de Vigo (R) during the UEFA Europe League Round of 4 first leg match between Celta de Vigo and KRC Genk FC at Balaidos Stadium on April 13, 2017 in Vigo, Spain. (Photo by Jose Manuel Alvarez Rey/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The 27-year-old striker started his football career as a youth player for Tanzaniam club “African Lyon” in 2008 before joining Simba Sports Club in 2010. After playing half of season for the aformentioned team, he moved to TP Mazembe of Congo.

Samatta was named the 2015 African based player of the year in a season that he finished as the top goalscorer of the CAF Champions League while helping TP Mazembe to win the title.

Samatta signed for the Belgian team K.R.C Genk in January 2006. He helped the team to qualify and played in the UEFA Europa League and also won in Belgian League in 2019.

The Internation player fro Tanzania was the top goalscorer of the Jupiler League and received the Ebony shoe award in Belgium.