7 Elite Academy East Africa has recruited Tanzanian international captain and UEFA Champions League player Mbwana Ally Samatta as the organisation’s first official ambassador.

Samatta, who scored for Genk in the Belgian side's encounter with Liverpool this month, will serve as an ambassador and work on major projects for the Academy.

He is the first of a series of 7EA ambassadors to be unveiled over coming months, as the organisation launches a major drive to expand opportunities for young people across the globe.

7 Elite Academy works with thousands of young players in the United States, United Kingdom and East Africa, and also boasts close working links with clubs in Australia.

Samatta’s first key project will be the design and construction of a football complex for 7 Elite Academy in Dar Es Salaam, while also participating in 7EA training camps across the world.

The 26-year-old, who has made over 50 appearances for his national side, said: "This is an amazing opportunity and I am keen to do whatever I can to help young players in Tanzania.

“I wish had a chance to play in an Academy like this when I was young. It's what our youth players need to develop and grow as good young people.

“We had a fantastic meeting with Mr. Wilson, Mr. Kiemba, and Mr. Morris from 7 Elite Academy in Dar Es Salaam and I was very impressed with their plans for the future.

“I have known Mr. Kiemba and Mr. Morris for many years and they are great men who have a similar vision to mine for the development of Football in Tanzania.

“I'm very happy to work with a truly professional and supportive Academy that can take that vision worldwide.”

Reggie Wilson, President of 7 Elite Academy East Africa, is looking forward to working with the highly-rated striker, who has scored 133 goals since his senior debut in 2010.

He said: "This is a really amazing opportunity for our Academy to align ourselves with a professional player of Mr. Samatta's undoubted calibre.

“We are excited to see what we can accomplish together. All of us in Tanzania are pulling for him, but now he will also have the support from 7 Elite youngsters in the USA and UK.

“It was truly an honor to meet with him and I can't wait to see what we can accomplish together for the betterment of the youth in Tanzania and the world over.

“This is going to change lives and open up even more opportunities to our youth."

The 7 Elite Academy Ambassador programme is designed to bring together some of the biggest names in world football to inspire and develop young players.

Wayne Scholes, Chief Executive at 7 Elite Academy, said: “I am so excited to bring Mbwana Ally Samatta on board as our first official ambassador in East Africa.

“Our closely-held values and ethics are designed to bring the very best out of youngsters wherever they may live and play. It is so important for them to develop a positive attitude, both in soccer and life in general.

“That is where our ambassadors come in. They will work with young people at key stages in their lives and careers, so they can make the most of every opportunity they are given.

“We have recruited the best professional coaching staff to work alongside our ambassadors, who we will be announcing over the next few weeks and months. We have a rich history of only working with football's best players, including James Milner, Stephen Warnock and now Mbwana Ally Samatta.”

SWAHILI VERSION

7 elite academy Africa mashariki imemsaili kapteni wa kimataifa wa Tanzania na mchezaji wa ligi ya mabingwa barani Ulaya ( UEFA ) Mbwana Ally Samatta kama barozi wa taaisi kwa kwanza kiofisi.

Samatta ambaye aliifungia timu ya Genk ya ubelgiji walipocheza na Liverpool mwezi huu,atahudumu kama Balozi na kufanya kazi katika miradi mikubwa ya akademi.

Ni wa kwanza katika mfululizo wa mabalozi watakaowekwa wazi kwa miezi inayokuja wakati taasisi ikitanua wigo wa fulsa kwa vijana wadogo ulimwenguni.

7 Elite Academy inafanya kazi na maelfu ya wachezaji vijana ndani ya Marekani,Uingereza ,na Afrika Mashariki na pia inaongeza njia za karibu wa kufanya kazi na vilabu ndani ya Australia.

Samatta kazi yake muhimu ya kwanza itakuwa ni kubuni na kujenga uwanja wa mpira wa 7 Elite Academy ndani ya Dar es salaam, huku pia akishiriki katika kambi za 7EA ulimwenguni.

Kijana huyo wa miaka 26 ambaye ameichezea timu yake ya taifa Zaidi ya mara 50,alisema “ Hii ni nafasi ya kipekee nina shauku ya kufanya chochote ninachoweza kusaidia vijana wa Tanzania .

Ninatamani ningepata nafasi ya kucheza katika akademi kama hivi wakati nikiwa mdogo.Ndicho ambacho vijana wetu wanahitaji kuendelea na kukua kama vijana wema .

Tulikuwa na kikao kizuri na Bw. Wilson ,Bw. Kiemba na Bw Morris kutoka 7Elite Academy Dar es salaam na nilivutiwa sana na mipango yao ya baadae.

Nimemjua Bw, Kiemba na Bw Morris kwa miaka mingi na ni watu wazuri sana ambao wana maono ya kuendana nami kwa maendeleo ya mpir wa Tanzania.

Nina furaha sana kufanya kazi na wataalamu wa kweli na akademi ya msaada ambayo ninaweza kuyabeba maono dunian.

Reggie Wilson, Raisi wa 7 Elite Academy Afrika Mashariki,anatarajia kufanya kazi na mshambuliaji huyo mwenye wadhifa wa juu , ambaye amefunga magoli 133 angu alipoanza kucheza mwaka 2010.

Alisema “ Hii ni nafasi ya kipekee ya kustaajabisha kwa akademi kujipangilia yenyewe pamoja na wachezaji wa kulipwa wa kariba ya Samatta

Tuna shauku ya kuona ni nini tutakamilisha pamoja .Wote hapa Tanzania tunahamasika kwa ajili yake ,lakini sasa pia atapata msaada wa vijana wa 7 Elite Academy ya Marekani na Uingereza

Kwa kweli ilikuwa ni nafasi ya heshima kukutana na yeye na siwezi kusubili kuona vile ambavyo tunaenda kukamilisha nae pamoja kwa mafanikio ya vijana Tanzania na ulimwenguni

“Hili inaenda kubadilisha maisha na kufungua nafasi Zaidi kwa vijana wet.

Programu ya balozi wa 7 Elite Academy imebuniwa ili kuleta pamoja baadhi ya majina makubwa katika ulimwengu wa soka ili kuwa tia moyo na kuwaendeleza wachezaji vijana.

Mkurugenzzi mkuu wa 7 Elite Academy ,Alisema Nina sisimkwa kumleta Mbwana Ally Samatta kwetu kama Balozi wa kwanza kiofisi katika Afrika ya mashariki.

“Msimamo wetu na thamani yetu tumejipanga kuwaleta vijana bora popote wanapoishi na kucheza .Ni muhimu kwao kuendeleza tabia njema,pote ndani ya mchezo na nje katika maisha kiujumla.

Hapo ndipo Balozi wetu anapoingia .Watafanya kazi na vijana katika hatua muhumu za awali za maisha na mchezo.Hivyo wanaweza kuteengeneza ubora katika kila nafasi watakayopewa .

"Tumeajiri wafanyikazi bora wa kufundisha wafanye kazi na mabalozi wetu, ambao tutakuwa tukitangaza kwa wiki na miezi michache ijayo. Tuna historia tajiri ya kufanya kazi tu na wachezaji bora wa mpira, pamoja na James Milner, Stephen Warnock na sasa Mbwana Ally Samatta. "