Kei Kamara is a professional footballer from Sierra Leone who plays as a striker for Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer (MLS). Notably, he is one of 13 players to have scored 100 goals in MLS, reaching this milestone in just 300 appearances. He currently holds the second spot on MLS’s all-time scoring list, having netted goals for 11 different clubs.
Early Life and Education
Kamara was born and raised in Kenema, the third-largest city in Sierra Leone. His early years were marked by the Sierra Leone Civil War, during which he witnessed numerous atrocities. Football became his sanctuary during this tumultuous time. At the age of 16, Kamara and his family relocated to the United States through a refugee program, initially settling in Maryland before moving to Hawthorne, California, near Los Angeles. At one point, he even hid in the jungle and spent two years in a refugee camp in the Gambia. In 2006, Kamara became an American citizen. His football career began with Kallon F.C. from 2001 to 2003.
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Kamara attended California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he played college soccer. In his second year, he was named a third-team All-American. Additionally, he spent two seasons with Orange County Blue Star in the USL Premier Development League.