KRC Genk have announced the return of Tanzania national team captain Mbwana Ally Samatta (29) on a one-year loan deal from Turkish giant Fenerbahce.
Samatta, who spent last season at another Belgian side Royal Antwerp, returns to the place where his European football journey began.
The club announced his return via a tweet on Tuesday afternoon.
The Taifa Stars skipper is loved by many KRC Genk fans since his first arrival in 2016 where he left in 2020 to join English Premier League club Aston Villa.
During his four-year spell at KRC Genk, he played 191 and scored 76 goals and 20 assists. He played a significant role in helping KRC Genk to lift the Belgium Champions 20218/19.
After a difficult time in the EPL, he moved to the Turkish Super Lig but still struggled to get goals. During the 2020/21 season, he scored five goals in 27 league appearances.
The club sent him on loan to Antwerp in an effort to help him regain his form.
When joining the club that launched the late Anele Ngcongca’s career, Samatte signed a four-year deal and went on to spend five seasons. The 29-year-old was coming from Congolese side TP Mazembe.
He had just helped Mazembe to a fifth CAF Champions League title after scoring eight goals for them. That same season, he was picked as the best African-based player due to his sizzling form.
He left his native country Tanzania in 2011 after a stint with Simba SC and went on to score 20 goals in 40 matches in the CAF Champions League.
He is arguably the most successful Tanzanian footballer after his exploits in Europe. The forward, who turns 30 in December, will be hoping for better fortunes at his former club.They are currently third in the Belgian Jupiler League after four games, having collected nine points.
