Kei Kamara
Encyclopedia
Kei Kamara is a Sierra Leone
an footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer
.
, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents. As a teenager, he emigrated to the United States to escape the civil war in that country, and settled with relatives in Hawthorne, California
, near Los Angeles
.
at California State University Dominguez Hills, where, in his senior season, he was named third-team All-American. Kamara also spent two seasons with Orange County Blue Star
in the USL Premier Development League
ninth overall at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft
. Prior to the 2008 season, he was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes
in exchange for Brian Carroll
. On July 24, 2008 Kamara was traded to the Houston Dynamo
for a draft pick and allocation money. On September 30, 2008 Kamara scored two goals for MLS champion Houston Dynamo against Mexican club UNAM Pumas in a CONCACAF Champions League
match.
On September 15, 2009 Kamara was traded to Sporting Kansas City for Abe Thompson
and allocation money.
, commonly referred to as the Leone Stars. Kamara has formed a regular partnership up front with fellow Kenema native Mohamed Kallon
in the Leone Stars attack. His most recent cap came September 5, 2010, during a 1-1 draw with Egypt in Sierra Leone's first group stage match in qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
an footballer who currently plays for Sporting Kansas City in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Early life
Kamara was born and raised in KenemaKenema
Kenema is the third largest city in Sierra Leone and the largest city in the Eastern Province with a population of 128,402 in the 2004 census and a more recent estimate of 169,937...
, Sierra Leone's third largest city to Temne parents. As a teenager, he emigrated to the United States to escape the civil war in that country, and settled with relatives in Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne, California
Hawthorne is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California. The city at the 2010 census had a population of 84,293, up from 84,112 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
, near Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
College
Kamara played college soccerCollege soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at California State University Dominguez Hills, where, in his senior season, he was named third-team All-American. Kamara also spent two seasons with Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
Professional
Kamara was then chosen by Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
ninth overall at the 2006 MLS SuperDraft
2006 MLS SuperDraft
The 2006 MLS SuperDraft, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 20, 2006, was the seventh incarnation of the annual Major League Soccer SuperDraft. The first selection originally belonged to C.D. Chivas USA, but they traded it to the MetroStars for the fifth overall selection and Jason...
. Prior to the 2008 season, he was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in exchange for Brian Carroll
Brian Carroll
Brian Carroll is an American soccer player who currently plays for Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
. On July 24, 2008 Kamara was traded to the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
for a draft pick and allocation money. On September 30, 2008 Kamara scored two goals for MLS champion Houston Dynamo against Mexican club UNAM Pumas in a CONCACAF Champions League
CONCACAF Champions League
The CONCACAF Champions League is the annual international club football championship for teams from the CONCACAF region ....
match.
On September 15, 2009 Kamara was traded to Sporting Kansas City for Abe Thompson
Abe Thompson
Abraham Broman "Abe" Thompson is an American soccer player currently playing for Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the North American Soccer League.-Youth and College:...
and allocation money.
International
Kamara has been capped eight times by the Sierra Leone national football teamSierra Leone national football team
The Sierra Leone national football team, nicknamed the Leone Stars, is the national team of Sierra Leone and is controlled by the Sierra Leone Football Association...
, commonly referred to as the Leone Stars. Kamara has formed a regular partnership up front with fellow Kenema native Mohamed Kallon
Mohamed Kallon
Mohamed Kallon is a Sierra Leonean international footballer and considered the most famous footballer from Sierra Leone. He is currently playing for I-League club Viva Kerala FC-Personal life:...
in the Leone Stars attack. His most recent cap came September 5, 2010, during a 1-1 draw with Egypt in Sierra Leone's first group stage match in qualification for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.