Inglewood United has made quite an impression on new signing Teeboy Kamara, and vice versa. Kamara arrived at Inglewood last month after over two years out of the game but in next to no time he’s rekindled the form which won him Australian youth honours in 2011. After a few cameo outings, the teenage striker opened his Inglewood account in last week’s Cup defeat of Fremantle United and followed that with Saturday’s match-winning double against ECU Joondalup. “Inglewood has been really good to me,” said Kamara. “I like their playing style, it suits my game and I am really happy to get on the scoreboard.”
Kamara shot to prominence in December 2011 when, at the age of 15 years and 212 days, he became the A-League’s youngster ever player by turning out for Adelaide United against Gold Coast United. “My time at Adelaide was really amazing. I learnt a lot from some really talented players and quality coaches, and the club took really good care of me. Without them I wouldn’t be here,” said Kamara, who also made four Asian Champions League appearances. “I still want to play in the A-League and I feel better than I ever have been … if the opportunity came again at another club I would jump at the chance.”
Liberia-born Kamara fled his war-torn homeland in 2002 and upon arriving in Adelaide played for Croydon Kings and Salisbury United. By 2011 he was learning the finer points of the world game at the Australian Institute of Sport. “The AIS is a real amazing place,” he said. “I had a successful year and I learnt a great deal about my game which helped me to a contract at Adelaide, and to represent my new country at the Under-17 World Cup in 2011. I got an injury in the first game of that tournament and although it cut short my campaign it was a great experience and one I’ll never forget. “
Footballers the world over credit their coaches for their successes, but not Kamara who says he wouldn’t be where he is today with the support of his family. “They have been great,” he said. “I owe a great deal to my mum, who passed away a couple of years ago. I’ve got the best and most inspiration brother in the world, who is very supportive, and so are my sister and my cousin. Another person is my amazing girlfriend, who has been a great help to me since I moved over to Perth. Her whole family have looked after me and made my stay in Perth even better.”
Kamara’s ultimate goal is to return to professional football, but of more immediate concern to the 17-year old is coming up with the goods on a regular basis for Inglewood. “I heard Normo (coach Graham Normanton) he is one of the most successful coaches in WA, and he has welcomed me with open arms,” Kamara said. “He is still getting to know me and I am still getting to know him, but I can tell he has lots of Ideas about the game … I’m excited about the future. It was nice to score my first league goals, it had been a while so it was a bit of a relief.”
Courtesy of www.footballwa.net
02.05.14
