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MLS Preview: Top 10 Must Watch Players Of African Descent - #8 Kei Kamara
One of the league’s most prolific strikers comes in at #8. Kei Kamara is coming off one of his best seasons to date where he scored 14 goals in 28 matches for the Vancouver Whitecaps. The Sierra Leone international was was selected by FC Cincinnati in the 2018 MLS Expansion Draft and immediately traded to the Colorado Rapids for the 2019 season.
The heart shaped hands goal machine embraces new challenge
Soccer player Kei Kamara attends the 2016 ESPYS at Microsoft Theater on July 13, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.
(July 12, 2016 - Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images North America)
The big time, big smile, big heart and big goals player and a veteran of nomadic nature in the MLS is once again on the cusp of a new adventure with the Colorado Rapids, his seventh MLS club to date. The Sierra Leone international was nabbed by FC Cincinnati in December 2018 who immediately traded him to the Colorado Rapids after Vancouver Whitecaps let go of the 34-year-old. The forward netted 14 goals in the just ended MLS season, helped in mentoring youngsters such as the Bayern Munich winger, Alphonso Davies and was not shy to describe the shocking nature of the club’s decision. However, as always, the veteran MLS player who also had brief stints with English Premier League side, Norwich City and Championship contenders in Middlesbrough sees only positives ahead. Having scored double figure goals in the past 5 seasons, the Rapids have a top quality and proven forward in Kamara, one they were lacking in the 2018 MLS season that saw them finish 11th in the Western Conference and scoring at least 13 fewer goals than any other club.
The MLS’ sixth all time leading goal scorer moved to United States at age 16 through a refugee program from the Gambia after they had fled his native war-torn Sierra Leone. He briefly spent time in Maryland before moving to Los Angeles where eventually played college soccer at California State University. The founder of the Kei Kamara Heart Shaped Hands Foundation that helps children with school fees and scholarships, is relishing the new challenge and quite excited to find a new home as he has always done throughout his life.
It’s inconceivable that Kei will not add more to his 90 MLS goals tally and 36 assists in 268 appearances. He may not be the same player who had a memorable 2015 season, scoring a league high 22-goals and winning several individual accolades, but he still got it.