90 Minutes At A Time
·13 September 2020
90 Minutes At A Time
·13 September 2020
Continuing our alphabetical world tour, next up is Tanzania – the most recent nation to make their debut in the Premier League and one of the few positive stories to come out of 2020 so far.
There is currently no option to filter for Tanzanian players on the Premier League’s player stats page, but we believe that only one player has represented Tanzania in the Premier League.
First (and only) Player – Mbwana Samatta (Aston Villa; 2020-present)
After an injury to first-choice striker Wesley, struggling Villa turned to the transfer market in their search for the goals needed to avoid relegation last season. The Villans subsequently forked out £8.5m for the services of Mbwana Samatta of Genk.
A powerful striker with devastating aerial ability, Samatta immediately slotted into the side that reached the League Cup Final, before scoring on his Premier League debut against Bournemouth.
There are signs that Samatta is adapting to English football, not least a towering header that ultimately proved in vain in the League Cup Final.
Records
Elsewhere
Samatta remains the only current Tanzanian in the Premier League, though Adi Yussuf (Boreham Wood, on loan from Blackpool) also plays his club football in England.
Trivia