Samatta: My dream is to play in English Premier League
Taifa Stars and DR Congo’s TP Mazembe striker Mbwana Samata (left) addresses a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday. With him is Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Mr Nape Nnauye. PHOTO/MAJUTO OMARY
What you need to know:
The agile forward has attracted interest from a number of European clubs, including KRC Genk, a Belgium Premier League team.
Dar es Salaam. TP Mazembe’s Tanzanian hotshot Mbwana Samata, who dominated headlines recently following his heroics, has expressed his desire to play in the English Premier League.
The agile forward has attracted interest from a number of European clubs, including KRC Genk, a Belgium Premier League team.
“I don’t understand why we don’t have players in Europe but I am sure I can be one,” Samata said yesterday.
“Before I joined TP Mazembe, not many people knew about Tanzanian football but that’s changing now. As a country, we don’t have many players playing overseas so when you play for a big team like Mazembe, everyone notices you,” he said.
Samata who is expected to sign for the Belgian team early next year, revealed that his long cherished passion was to feature for a Premier League club in England.
“I would like to go to England because I think the English Premier League is the No1 in the world,” the gifted striker insisted.
The former Simba Sports Club player endeared himself to almost soccer fan during the 2015 CAF Champions League for his impressive skills. “If all goes well, I will join KRC Genk during the January 2016 transfer window,” he said.
Samata had a very successful CAF Champions League campaign with TP Mazembe in 2015, scoring eight goals to help the Ravens lift the Africa title for the fifth time in their history and in the process qualified for the World Club Championship where they finished fifth after losing their two matches.
According to French publication L’Equipe, Mazembe and Genk have struck a deal for the 23-year-old forward, who will reportedly sign a two-year contract with the European club. KRC Genk are currently occupying the 6th place in the Belgian Jupiler League, with 8 wins, 4 draws and 8 losses in their account this season. Meanwhile, Minister for Information, Culture and Sports Nape Nnauye congratulated Samata for the success he has achieved so far and challenged him to work even harder ahead of his next assignments.
