Mbwana Samatta is carrying Tanzania's torch in Europe

“He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title-chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second-placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019.”

— Dennis Takaendesa, FirstTouch Africa

He might not be a Didier Drogba but the 26-year-old Tanzanian’s style of play does remind us of the Chelsea legend and his stats are starting to look a lot like those of the retired Ivorian. Mbwana Samatta is a man who is currently unleashing fire from his boots, hot enough to grill whatever it is that can’t be easily grilled. With 16 goals to his name in only 19 league appearances, Mbwana is crafting the stuff of a legend. That’s almost a goal every match! He won our attention and we know no better way to celebrate him than following through the career of the first ever Tanzanian to play European football.

Dar Es Salaam streets

Mbwana Ally Samatta was born and bred in Tanzania, started following his football dream in the dusty streets of Dar Es Salaam before he was in the books of Tanzanian Premier League side, Africa Lyon as a 16-year-old. He has never been a late bloomer and by 2010, when he was 18, Samatta became a professional footballer and made his senior debut with Simba SC, one of the biggest football clubs in the East African nation. He amazingly scored 13 goals in 25 appearances for the club, inevitably attracting one of the big boys of African football. It’s not everyday that you come across an incredibly good East African in the football circles and this I say with utmost respect. They are just uniquely endowed in many other ways, but Samatta is one of the outliers. It became evident when he transferred to one of Africa’s most successful clubs.

Mbwana Samatta of TP Mazembe in action during the FIFA Club World Cup fifth place match between Club America and TP Mazembe at Osaka Nagai Stadium on December 16, 2015 in Osaka, Japan.

(Dec. 15, 2015 - Source: Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images AsiaPac)

TP Mazembe came calling and the second most successful club in the CAF Champions league with five titles, got their man. Samatta wasted no time at the DR Congo outfit, scoring 60 goals in 103 appearances between 2011-16. In that time period, he won the Linafoot, DR Congo’s top flight league title, four times and two other domestic cups. Perhaps the highlight was 2015, when he helped Mazembe to their latest CAF Champions League title after defeating USM Alger of Algeria by 4 -1 on aggregate. The Tanzanian finished the tournament as the top goal scorer with a total of 7 to his name and his crowning moment came that particular year. He won the 2015 CAF African Player Of The Year Award (Based In Africa) ahead of teammate and the “donkey dance” goalkeeper, Robert Kidiaba as well as Algerian Baghdad Bounedjah. Once more, there he was, on the move.

Touch-down Europe

Samatta’s exploits in the year 2015 meant that Belgian Professional League side, K.R.C Genk gave in to the temptation of bringing the Tanzanian to Europe. Up to this day, they have lived not to regret that decision as Samatta already has 31 goals in 73 appearances since joining the three time Belgian First Division A champions in 2016. He is currently the league’s top scorer with 16 to his name and a crucial member of the title chasing Genk setup who are ten points ahead of second placed Club Brugge. The Tanzanian captain also bagged 3 UEFA Europa League goals in 5 matches as Genk reached the last 32 where they will now play Czech Republic’s Slavia Praha in February 2019. With a further 17 goals for the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, Samatta is becoming a national icon and could help his nation to a rare AFCON finals appearance in June 2019 if they can win their final qualifiers match at home, against group leaders Uganda. Also in the Genk squad are African stars, Joseph Aidoo and Joseph Paintsil of Ghana together with DR Congo’s Dieumerci Ndongala.

Make no mistake about it, Samatta has become one of Europe’s most lethal strikers with simplicity marking his style of play. He is not your super skillful footballer but a goal poacher always prying in the box ready to hurt the opponent at all costs. No wonder Premier League side, Cardiff City were interested in bringing him to England in the January transfer window. They are desperately in need of goals and goals is what he can give to them, on a silver platter

UEFA Europa League Matchday 2: Our African Fantasy Five

The second best European club competition commenced last Thursday and we witnessed some stellar performances by individuals who have been in and out of their teams since the beginning of the 2018/19 season. These soccer players will be looking to continue their form into Matchday 2. But before we pop some popcorn and get ready for the second round, let's look at the five African players that stood out in the competition last week. Here's FirstTouch’s UEFA Europa League Fantasy 5. We have one goalkeeper, one defender, two midfielders and a striker up top in a diamond formation.

Goalkeeper

It is quite unfortunate that no African goalkeeper was in action on Matchday 1. Therefore, this position will be reserved for a goalkeeper that pushes into the Starting XI of their respective clubs and prove their worth on Matchday 2.

Joseph Aidoo of Ghana shows his frustration after a Mali goal during the FIFA U-20 World Cup New Zealand 2015 Round of 16 match between Ghana and Mali at Wellington Regional Stadium on June 10, 2015 in Wellington, New Zealand.

(June 9, 2015 - Source: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images AsiaPac)

Joseph Aidoo (Centre Back) - Sarpsborg vs Genk

The Ghanaian international plays for Genk in the Belgian division. He was a starter in the UEFA Europa League match between Genk and Malmo FF. He helped his team keep a clean sheet against the Swedish giants. Who would not want to have a defender that won 4 arial duels, cleared the ball 6 times out of danger, and made 3 crucial interceptions. The 23-year old was a class above the rest on Matchday 1.

Iwobi (Left Midfield) - Qarabag FK vs Arsenal

Mesut Ozil of Arsenal (r) celebrates scoring his sides second goal with Alex Iwobi during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Watford FC at Emirates Stadium on September 29, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 28, 2018 - Source: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images Europe

Of course, the Naija boy deserves plaudits for his man of the match performance for Arsenal against Vorskla Poltava. He provided an assist for Aubameyang to score his second goal of the season on the 32nd minute. Iwobi created chances that went bagging as his teammates failed to finish off their opponents. The young midfielder was a constant menace on the left flank and would probably have been at the very top of the Power Rankings if the Europa League had a fantasy team of the week.

Metz's Senegalese midfielder Ismaila Sarr (L) vies with Rennes' French defender Ludovic Baal during the French L1 football match Rennes against Metz on October 30, 2016 at the Roazhon park stadium in Rennes, western France. / AFP / DAMIEN MEYER

(Oct. 29, 2016 - Source: AFP)

Ismaila Sarr (Right Midfield) - Astana vs Rennes

Fantasy football is based on efficiency and results as opposed to personal affection towards individual soccer players. This warrants a place for Sarr in the team on the right. The Senegalese international scored a stunner for Stade Rennais which is goal of the season contender. He produced the goods and would definitely be in our fantasy team heading into matchday 2.

Aubameyang (Centre Forward) - Qarabag FK vs Arsenal

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's third goal with Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal during the UEFA Europa League Group E match between Arsenal and Vorskla Poltava at Emirates Stadium on September 20, 2018 in London, United Kingdom.

(Sept. 19, 2018 - Source: Henry Browne/Getty Images Europe)

Another Arsenal player to make it to the team. Well deserved if you ask me. The Gabonese international was hungry for goals against Ukrainian side, Vorskla Poltava. He scored a brace on the night and almost scored made it three had it not been for a shot that hit the upright. We would be confident having a world class striker like Pierre Emerick Aubameyang leading the line in my UEFA Europa League team.

(Super Sub) Mbwana Samatta - Sarpsborg vs Genk

Some special mention should be reserved for the Tanzanian striker Mbwana Samatta who plays for Genk. The forward scored one of the goals that sealed a 2-0 victory against Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s old club. Had it not been for the Aubameyang, Samatta would be leading the line in my UEFA Europa League Fantasy 5 side. Oh maybe we could play two strikers with no goalkeeper, if that were possible.

Which Africans would make it into your Matchday 2 Europa League Fantasy Five?

DRC: Frustrated quartet walk out of the squad

Four players left the Democratic Republic of Congo camp before their friendly against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania. This was perhaps a case too many for West Ham United’s Arthur Masuaku, Paul-Jose Mpoku of Belgian club Standard Liege, Jordan Ikoko from En Avant Guingamp and Gael Kakuta of Ligue 1 outfit Amiens. The cited reasons for the protest were repeated logistical and organizational problems.

As the four left for their clubs, the faithful had to endure the flight delays, poor quality accommodation with a stern warning that they would follow suit if conditions would remain unchanged. DRC Congo have lost the ensuing match 2-0 in Tanzania to Tanzania. Logistical issues and non-payment of promised allowances are not exactly new in some other African countries and the players seem to be pushing for a revolution to change things. Here is what a Congo Brazzaville striker said last week after he had ditched the team in France over poor treatment of players:

"We will remain vigilant. We will now check a month before our next international to find out what the conditions are. I think a message has been conveyed to the country. And that the conditions will be much better in the future." - Thievy Bifouma