Kei Kamara

[Since 1980 27]

Nice bit about him in today''s Daily Express. Scored against ITFC on Saturday, ironic that, given an ex-player of their''s scored against us. Shame we let him go, must have been batter than Bachio!

Now Middlesbrough new boy Kei Kamara can smile

THIS month sees the 23rd anniversary of the outbreak

of one of Africa’s bloodiest and most brutal civil wars – a horrific

conflict which Middlesbrough’s Kei Kamara will never forget.

By: Niall Hickman

Published: Mon, March 10, 2014

0Comments

Kei Kamara has scored four goals for Middlesbrough this season [GETTY]

Kamara

was born and raised in Sierra Leone, only fleeing the country when he

was 16 to start a new life in America. He had not seen his mother for 10

years and, while it is now more than a decade since the war ended, he

still has clear memories of his homeland, where 50,000 of his fellow

countrymen were killed.

Kamara said:

“The war started when I was six and the first experience I had of it was

when an explosion went off literally outside my school.

“The

rebels had started to move into the local provinces like Kenema, where I

lived, before spreading on to the capital, Freetown. We heard rumours

there was fighting nearby from some local villagers but, when it

happened, it was everyone for themselves.

“It

wasn’t like a fire drill with the kids all leaving in an orderly queue,

it was, ‘Get the hell out of here. Run for your lives!’.

“I

ran until I got back to my family and then we seemed to spend years and

years at war. I saw things which a kid should never see. I have seen

people killed in front of me, dead bodies all over the streets and

vultures picking at them.

Kamara represents Sierra Leone who are ranked 73rd in the world [GETTY]

The war started when I was six and the first experience I

had of it was when an explosion went off literally outside my school

Kei Kamara

“It’s

really vivid. It’s very sad for the ones that didn’t make it through and

also for us that did – because I still have nightmares about it even to

this day.

“I lost family and friends.

There are very few people in Sierra Leone who didn’t. It’s very common.

The buildings, the infrastructure, the roads, everything, it was all

gone.

“Every day when I woke up in

Sierra Leone we had a head count of all our family and our neighbours

and it was good if we got through a day with no more killings.

“My

mother left in 1990 and I didn’t get out of the country until 2000. So

many people were trying to get out so they couldn’t say yes to everyone.

My mother was distraught because I am her only child and it took her 10

years of trying to get me on a refugee programme.”

Thankfully

there is also something approaching an uplifting ending to Kamara’s

story as the striker is settled on Teesside and is a hugely popular

member of Aitor Karanka’s squad, not only for his infectious enthusiasm,

but also for his reputation as a highly inventive dressing room

prankster.”

Danny Graham netted twice as Middlesbrough defeated Ipswich in Saturday''s Championship match [GETTY]

Kamara,

who helped Middlesbrough secure their first win and first goal in eight

games on Saturday against Ipswich Town – a total of 12 hours 14 minutes

– added: “I love going back there – [Sierra Leone] and I go there every

chance I get. It is so peaceful now and the country is developing so

much better.

“My country has made me

who I am. I’m not just a footballer. I’m a normal person and I like

doing normal things, but my background is African and that means I have

to give something back.

“I’m going back

straight after the season is finished and will take some donations over

there and anything I can do to help. There will be a lot of kids

wearing Middlesbrough shirts in Sierra Leone.”

With thanks to the Kei Kamara Foundation.

[lowlyfendweller 0]

A perspective altering read. Thank you.

[Juggy 0]

"Scored against ITFC on Saturday"

No he didn''t.

[Dan 0]

It''s a shame Hughton didn''t keep him, I don''t think it was Kei''s fault he couldn''t score, it was the style of play restricting him. If you get the opportunity, watch Kei''s movie, a real eye opener of a great guy!

[Yellow Bird 0]

We should''ve kept him. Exciting player and great to bring on. Hughton knew best, apparently.

[It's Character Forming 1,160]

Does put it into perspective. I''ve always felt he''d have been better 3rd choice than Elmander(well, after seeing El play a few times)

Havin said that before beating the scum on Sat, Boro had gone 8 games without scoring. Not the best record for a striker? In the Champ

[morty 0]

[quote user="Yellow Bird"]We should''ve kept him. Exciting player and great to bring on. Hughton knew best, apparently.[/quote]Looks like he did..."Having said that before beating the scum on Sat, Boro had gone 8 games

without scoring. Not the best record for a striker? In the Champ

"

[Juggy 0]

"Looks like he did..."

Let''s ignore the fact that he has just come back from a two month lay off shall we Morty?

[Warren Hill 0]

Injuries=excuses.

[pete_norw 0]

[quote user="Warren Hill"]Injuries=excuses.[/quote]

The reason why he never scored is the same as RVW No service

[NWC 239]

It certainly was a weird one this thing with KK.He was an integral part of the team, he played, he even started most of the games he was here - then we just let him go, with no replacement?Doesn''t seem right to me. Surely he was a better option to what we had at the time with him playing and starting in the team, and if he wasn''t better than what we had - why the hell were we playing him???

[ron obvious 1,499]

Not a Hughton type player. Compare & contrast with RvW.

Sort of sums up my problem with Hughton.

[Tetteys Jig 830]

With the benefit of hindsight, I wish we''d kept him. He won''t have been on stacks, he provides a different option than we have and he''s more effective than Elmander is.

I genuinely thought we''d sign a similar but better player as we turned him down. That didn''t happen which is odd. I liked his attitude and he was always an exciting option off the bench that geed the crowd up and you could see it gave the other 10 players a boost seeing him come on. He''d have scored 2 if Wes wasn''t such a goal stealing umph (sunderland game)! That''s more than RVW,, Becchio and Elmander combined!

[morty 0]

[quote user="Jimmy Smith"]With the benefit of hindsight, I wish we''d kept him. He won''t have been on stacks, he provides a different option than we have and he''s more effective than Elmander is.

I genuinely thought we''d sign a similar but better player as we turned him down. That didn''t happen which is odd. I liked his attitude and he was always an exciting option off the bench that geed the crowd up and you could see it gave the other 10 players a boost seeing him come on. He''d have scored 2 if Wes wasn''t such a goal stealing umph (sunderland game)! That''s more than RVW,, Becchio and Elmander combined![/quote]I said this at the time, and, like you, assumed we had someone else coming in.

[Houston Canary 0]

I''m stunned morky would make such a comment about a former player since he''s always on the Grant Holt threads to moan "he''s gone so get over it".

Kamara is also gone, but I guess morky''s rules only apply to everyone else. All hail Emperor Morky. Nanu nanu.

.

[Mello Yello 2,279]

I personally, would have liked Kei to have remained at the club.......