Ola Kamara

Ola Kamara
Kamara (right) at a fan event for Columbus in 2017
Personal information
Full name Ola Williams Kamara
Date of birth (1989-10-15) 15 October 1989
Place of birth Oslo, Norway
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current team
 LA Galaxy
Number 11
Youth career
Frigg
Stabæk
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2008 Stabæk 6 (0)
2007 → Hønefoss (loan) 8 (0)
2009–2012 Strømsgodset 100 (34)
2013–2014 SV Ried 0 (0)
2013 → TSV 1860 München (loan) 10 (0)
2013 → TSV 1860 München II (loan) 5 (2)
2013 → Strømsgodset (loan) 14 (12)
2014–2016 Austria Wien 23 (2)
2015 → Molde (loan) 29 (14)
2016–2017 Columbus Crew SC 59 (34)
2018– LA Galaxy 29 (11)
National team‡
2006 Norway U17 7 (1)
2007 Norway U18 5 (0)
2012–2013 Norway U23 3 (0)
2013– Norway 11 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 7 October 2018
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 6 June 2018

Ola Williams Kamara (born 15 October 1989) is a Norwegian professional footballer who plays for LA Galaxy in Major League Soccer. He plays as a striker, and has also played for Stabæk, Hønefoss, Strømsgodset, Molde, Austria Wien, TSV 1860 München, and Columbus Crew SC. Kamara, who is of Sierra Leonean descent, has represented Norway at the youth and senior international levels.

Career

Club

Early career

With a father who moved from Sierra Leone as a refugee,[2] Kamara was born and grew up in Oslo.[3] When Kamara was one year old, his parents chose to seek help in raising him, and Kamara spent every second weekend, holidays and birthdays with a foster care family.[4] He played for Frigg during his youth, and made his debut for the first-team in the Second Division at the age of 15.[5] Kamara moved to Stabæk at the age of 16, and soon became an integral part team of Stabæk's youth team.[6] He scored the match-winning goal in the final against Viking when Stabæk won the Norwegian Youth Cup in 2008.[7]

Stabæk

Kamara made his debut for Stabæk in Tippeligaen at the age of 16,[8] when he replaced Somen Tchoyi as a substitute in the 2–2 draw against Lillestrøm on 1 October 2006.[9] The next season, he joined the First Division side Hønefoss on a short-term loan, as a replacement for the injured Lars Lafton and Kenneth Di Vita Jensen.[10] Kamara played three matches for Stabæk in 2008, enough to earn him a winners-medal, when the team won Tippeligaen. Kamara's contract expired after the 2008 season, and he wanted to find a new club, even though Stabæk wanted to renew his contract, because he found it too hard to compete with Daniel Nannskog and Veigar Páll Gunnarsson for playing time.[11] After unsuccessful trials with Reggina and Sandefjord, Kamara had gotten an offer from the 2. Divisjon side Bærum but on the last day of the transfer window ahead of the 2009 season, he signed a two-year contract with the Tippeligaen side Strømsgodset.[12] As his wage was only 135,000 kr per year, Kamara had to move back home to his mother.[5][8]

Strømsgodset Toppfotball

Kamara was mostly back-up for Marcus Pedersen in his first season with Strømsgodset.[13] After Pedersen moved to Netherlands in August 2010, Kamara started to play regularly alongside Jo Inge Berget.[5] Kamara scored seven goal in 25 matches in the 2010 season, and became joint top goalscorer for Strømsgodset alongside Pedersen. Kamara also scored goals in the semifinal and the final when Strømsgodset won the 2010 Norwegian Football Cup.[8] Kamara signed a new two-year contract with Strømsgodset in December 2010, lasting till the end of the 2012 season.[13]

Kamara continued to score goals in the beginning of the 2011 season, and when he scored against Odd Grenland on 10 April 2011 he had scored in six home-matches in a row.[14] He became Strømsgodset's top goalscorer in the 2011 season, with 10 goals. Strømsgodset signed Péter Kovács and Adama Diomande ahead of the 2012 season, and Kamara was expected to play less than he had done the last two seasons, but was however playing regularly on the left wing during the season and was a great contributor to the team.[15] After only scoring one goal in the first half of the season, Kamara scored three goals on Lerkendal Stadion in the 3–3 draw against Rosenborg on 24 June 2012.[16] Kamara scored another hat-trick one week later, when Hønefoss was beaten 5–0.[17] In the 5–0 victory against Fredrikstad on 27 July 2012, Kamara scored one and assisted three other goals.[18] Kamara also scored the match-winning goal against Rosenborg on 5 November 2012, which eliminated Rosenborg title-chances. At the end of the season, Strømsgodset finished second behind Molde, and won their first league-medals since 1997.[19]

Kamara's contract with Strømsgodset expired after the 2012 season.[20]

1860 München

On 20 January 2013, Kamara signed for SV Ried, but was immediately loaned out to TSV 1860 München on a six-month contract until the end of the season 2012–13 season with an option to extend the deal to two years.[21] After the season, he went on loan to Strømsgodset.

Strømsgodset Toppfotball

The loan spell at his old club Strømsgodset was very successful. He scored 12 goals in 14 matches, including a hat-trick in his first match, and thus played a vital role in the team that went on to win the league.

Austria Wien

Kamara signed for Austria Wien in January 2014 but scored only 2 goals in 23 matches.

Molde FK

On 28 January 2015, Molde FK announced that they had signed Kamara on loan for the 2015 season, with an option to buy the striker.[22]

On 4 August 2015 he scored a goal in 3-3 draw with Dinamo Zagreb in the second match of Third Qualifying Round UEFA Champions League.

Columbus Crew SC

On 4 February 2016, Kamara signed with Columbus Crew prior to the start of the MLS season. Terms of the transfer were not disclosed.[23] His 2016 base salary was $425,000.[24]

Kamara made his club debut 9 April 2016 in a 2-0 loss to Montreal Impact, replacing Kei Kamara in the 70th minute.[25] He started his time with Crew SC as the backup to Kei Kamara, but jumped into the starting role when Kei was traded to the New England Revolution. His first goal for the Crew was against Real Salt Lake on 28 May, adding two more to complete the hat trick.[26] Ola ended his first season outside Europe with 16 goals and 2 assists in 25 MLS appearances.

LA Galaxy

After two successful seasons with Columbus, in January 2018 Kamara was traded to LA Galaxy in exchange for Gyasi Zardes and $400,000 in targeted allocation money.[27]

International

Kamara was selected for regional teams (Norwegian: Kretslag) in Oslo at the age of 15,[2] and later represented Norway at under-16 and under-17 level. He has also represented the Norway under-23 national football team. Kamara made his debut for the Norwegian national team when he replaced Daniel Braaten in the 61st minute of the World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on 11 October 2013.[28] In the match against Iceland four days later, Kamara made his starting-debut on his 24th birthday and played a total of 55 minutes.[29]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 October 2018[1][30]
Club Season Division League Cup Continental Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Stabæk 2006 Tippeligaen 30000030
Total 30000030
Hønefoss 2007 Adeccoligaen 80000080
Total 80000080
Stabæk 2008 Tippeligaen 30100040
Total 30100040
Strømsgodset 2009 Tippeligaen 1540000154
2010 2574200299
2011 3011202[lower-alpha 1]03411
2012 301232003314
Total 10034942011138
1860 München 2012–13 2. Bundesliga 1000000100
Total 1000000100
1860 Munich II 2012–13 Regionalliga 52000052
Total 52000052
Strømsgodset 2013 Tippeligaen 1412002[lower-alpha 1]11613
Total 141200211613
Austria Wien 2013–14 Bundesliga 1210000121
2014–15 1110000111
Total 2320000232
Molde 2015 Tippeligaen 2914321154321
Total 2914321154321
Columbus Crew SC 2016 Major League Soccer 251610002616
2017 341851–3919
Total 593461006535
LA Galaxy 2018 Major League Soccer 291110003011
Total 291110003011
Career Total 283109207156318122
  1. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

Norway national team
YearAppsGoals
201340
201431
201500
201600
201720
201823
Total114

Statistics accurate as of June 6, 2018[31]

International goals

Scores and results list Norway's goal tally first.[31]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.15 January 2014Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Moldova1–12–1Friendly
2.23 March 2018Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway Australia1–14–1
3.3–1
4.4–1

Personal

In March 2018, Kamara earned a U.S. green card which qualifies him as a domestic player for MLS roster purposes.[32]

References

  1. 1 2 "Ola Kamara". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 Oksnes, Bernt Jakob (15 July 2005). "Her er nye Norge" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. p. 26. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Torkelsson, Mattias (20 January 2013). "Ola Kamara till 1860 München". SvenskaFans.com (in Norwegian). Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  4. ↑ Kjernlie, Eira; Dimmen, Sofie Dege (11 October 2013). "Ola takker sine helgeforeldre". Budstikka (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  5. 1 2 3 Solbakken, Espen (14 November 2010). "Godset-helten bor hjemme hos mamma" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  6. ↑ "Full fart på Nadderud og i Østfoldhallen – ungdomsbloggen uke 46" (in Norwegian). Stabæk Fotball. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Olsen, Olav Rege (1 November 2008). "Målkalas i finalen" (in Norwegian). Stavanger Aftenblad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  8. 1 2 3 Langerød, Dag; Vik, Marius (14 November 2010). "Matchhelt på luselønn" (in Norwegian). Nettavisen. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  9. ↑ "Lillestrøm – Stabæk". altomfotball.no (in Norwegian). 1 October 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  10. ↑ Rudstaden, Ole Martin (25 May 2007). "HBK hentet Kamara" (in Norwegian). Ringerikes Blad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  11. ↑ Hasle, Anders Mehlum (26 November 2008). "Kamara trener med SF" (in Norwegian). Sandefjords Blad. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  12. ↑ Bakkehaug, Wegard (15 October 2013). "Spisskometen Kamara var én dag fra å ende i 2. divisjon". TV 2 (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  13. 1 2 Nilsen, Jostein (3 December 2010). "Signerte ny kontrakt" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  14. ↑ Hoff, Jørgen B.; Nilsen, Jostein (11 April 2011). "Scorer alltid på Marienlyst" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  15. ↑ Nilsen, Magne J. (20 April 2012). "Klorer seg fast på SIF-laget" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  16. ↑ Nilsen, Sondre (24 June 2012). "Hattrick-helten: – Du tok feil, Ronny Deila!" (in Norwegian). Verdens Gang. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  17. ↑ Hoff, Jørgen B.; Stølan, Hege Dancke (20 June 2012). "Målkåt Kamara med to hat trick på rad" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  18. ↑ Holth, Eivind Brennhovd (27 July 2012). "Kamara: – Andreomgang er en maktdemonstrasjon" (in Norwegian). Drammens Tidende. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  19. ↑ Hoff, Jørgen B.; Stølan (5 November 2012). "Berget i SMS til Kamara: "Det står mellom oss to konger nå"" (in Norwegian). Dagbladet. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  20. ↑ "Ola Kamara forsvinner trolig fra Godset" (in Norwegian). Aftenposten. Norwegian News Agency. 17 November 2012. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
  21. ↑ "Ola Kamara verstärkt den Löwen-Sturm" (in German). TSV 1860 München. 20 January 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2013. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  22. ↑ "Ola Kamara til Molde!" [Ola Kamara to Molde!]. http://www.moldefk.no/ (in Norwegian). Molde FK. 28 January 2015. Archived from the original on 28 January 2015. Retrieved 28 January 2015. External link in |website= (help)
  23. ↑ "Columbus Crew SC sign 26-year-old Norwegian international forward Ola Kamara". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  24. ↑ "2016 MLS Player Salaries: May 15, 2016: By Club" (PDF). Major League Soccer Players Union. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  25. ↑ "Montreal Impact 2-0 Columbus Crew SC". ESPNFC. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  26. ↑ "Ola Kamara". Major League Soccer. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  27. ↑ https://www.lagalaxy.com/post/2018/01/20/la-galaxy-acquire-forward-ola-kamara
  28. ↑ Kvam, Lars Hojem (12 October 2013). "Én norsk spiller storkoste seg mot Slovenia". Dagbladet (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  29. ↑ Røed-Johansen, Daniel (15 October 2013). "Slik spilte Norge i Høgmos Ullevaal-debut". Aftenposten (in Norwegian). Retrieved 19 November 2013.
  30. ↑ Ola Kamara at Soccerway. Retrieved 1 March 2018.
  31. 1 2 "Ola Kamara". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmerman. Retrieved 23 October 2015.
  32. ↑ "Ola Kamara receives green card". LAGalaxy.com. 1 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
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