Mbwana Samata

TP Mazembe’s striker Mbwana Samata, who featured in the Taifa Stars’ World Cup qualifier first leg tie against visiting Gambia at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam last Sunday, has attracted attention of talent scouting agents from abroad.

There were a number of foreign scouts and some club officials who took trouble to watch the Stars-Gambia clash last Sunday.

 Besides Samata, other top performers during the match included Mrisho Ngassa and Mwinyi Kazimoto and some Gambian players.

The scouts came all the way from Zimbabwe, Ghana and officials from South African-based clubs.

A Zimbabwean, John Gregory, who represents UK-based Siyavuna Sports Agency, said he was in the country to monitor the performance of Samatta.


Gregory said he has been impressed by the TP Mazembe player and would compile a report of the player’s performance and submit it to UK where they agency review it with some English premiership clubs which he declined to disclose.

“I came here on duty just as I did when your team was playing in Abidjan, monitoring Samatta and other players but it will be premature to mention the names of the clubs which are interested in the services of the Tanzanian players,” he said.

He said Samata and his playmates have been outstanding for Taifa Stars in Abidjan and here.

“Samata is a top class player who plays with authority and confidence. I believe he deserves to play in one of the top English clubs,” he said.

Representatives of South Africa Free State Stars and Kaizer Chiefs were also seen watching the match. 

Samata is also reported to have impressed some agents during Taifa Stars’ day one of the 2014 World Cup qualifier tie against Cote d’Ivoire in Abidjan a weekend before the last.

He has been recalled into the Tanzanian national soccer team by the newly appointed Danish coach Kim Poulsen whose predecessor Jan surprisingly lost confidence in the player.

The former Simba player joined TP Mazembe last year together with Ugandan Patrick Ochan and another Tanzanian Thomas Ulimwengu.