Mbwana Samatta has already made a mark at Aston Villa.
Working his way into the hearts of the club’s fans, the 27 year old managed to score on his Premier League debut, a welcome start even if it came in a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Prior to his move to England, the footballer had often talked up his desire to play football in the country’s top flight. Ahead of Genk’s Champions League matches against Liverpool earlier this season, he said that the match would be hugely welcomed in his home country Tanzania.
Even a tackle would get the home crowds cheering, and Samatta managed more than that, scoring a goal against the Reds at Anfield.
For Genk, letting him go was always a matter of time, after he joined the club in 2016 from TP Mazembe. That move was made with the dream of eventually making it to the Premier League, and that’s why the Belgian club didn’t stop him from joining Aston Villa last month.
League someday. In the five years that I have been doing this job, this was emotionally the most difficult transfer. As a human, Samatta is so pure and so positive – while he really is the king in Tanzania. That made him worth gold for the dressing room.”
That’s certainly a great reference, and Aston Villa fans will be hoping he can become a hero for them too.
