With plaudits the world over and awards coming out of his ears, Virgil van Dijk is very much a player with a target on his back.
The Liverpool defender has established himself among the best in the world (many would argue he is the best) and that comes with pressure.
Not only does the Dutchman have to perform week in, week out and maintain the exceptionally high levels he’s set himself, he also has to deal with forward players looking to make a name for themselves by getting one over him.
Mbwana Samatta is one such player. He sees his team, Genk, take on Liverpool in the Champions League group stages this evening.
The build-up to the game has seen him dealing with questions about Van Dijk from all corners.
It’s a topic he’s happy to discuss, admitting that should he get the better of the Liverpool star, it will make big waves in his homeland.
“Everyone I spoke to last week started talking to me about the match in the match against Virgil van Dijk,” he told Het Laatste Nieuws.
“For me, it’s more than a duel against perhaps the best defender in the world, but if I manage to dribble Van Dijk, then everyone goes crazy in Tanzania. I am sure.
“I want to make people in my country proud. My adventure is their adventure. But I feel that I am not yet at the top of my ability.
Like many footballers, the chance to come up against Liverpool is something of a dream come true for Samatta.
The reigning European champions are one of the biggest clubs in the world, followed across the globe by legions of fans.
Samatta, though, admits it was their North-West rivals Manchester United who he was most keen on.
“I was more a fan of Manchester United than of Liverpool,” he added.
“I used to dream of playing those matches against the big English clubs. Now I am just here, for me this is really a dream come true.”
