COLUMBUS, Ohio – In Columbus Crew SC’s 4-1 trouncing of the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Kei Kamara scored his 57th career MLS regular-season goal in his 200th career league match.
And while he diverted attention to how well the team is playing after the match, Kamara admitted that it was a pretty enjoyable occasion.
“A goal, an assist and the win,” he said, emphasizing the three points. “So yes, it definitely did go [how I wanted it].”
Kamara’s goal came with Columbus, just like his first. Kamara scored that one in his very first game with the club that drafted him in 2006, and he seemed proud to score his 57th in his new, old home.
“It feels amazing,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking about playing my 200th game until they told me a couple days ago. For that game to be here in Columbus, I couldn’t ask for more. My wife is here, my family is here, and they get to see that.”
And on the night, even the demanding Gregg Berhalter was impressed with Kamara’s play.
“He’s been fantastic,” the Crew SC head coach said of his striker. “Besides the assist and the goal he had, he was dominating out there tonight. Every ball he was winning and bringing his teammates into the game. That’s what we imagined when we signed him. We’re very pleased with him so far.”
What Kamara has done so far is log five goals and two assists in just seven games since returning to Columbus. Could even the Sierra Leone native have expected such early success? Of course.
“Yeah, that’s why I came in,” he said with a laugh. “I’m here to click with the team. I’m here to help the team out. I’m happy I’m getting on the same page with a few of the guys, and it’s working out.”
Kamara has been open about wanting to be a marquee name in the league since his return, and starting the season on the right foot has only strengthened his belief.
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“I feel like I’m really part of this league, I’m really part of MLS,” he said. “I feel like I’m one of the originals. I’ve been around here so long; that’s why I feel like I’ve played more than 200 games. I respect this league so much.”
Kamara has also been consistent in expressing his desire to show the country and the world that he and other players are coming to MLS in their prime.
“Maybe some people underestimate the league, but for me… coming back here at the height of my career, all I want to do is keep working and keep proving to a lot of people that I can still do what I can do,” he said. “For all the players who have come back into MLS, it’s a competition here. I want to make sure I let them know that I grew up here and I played here.”
And in a week that also featured Sierra Leone’s independence day, Kamara was flying high Saturday.
“It’s a perfect week,” he said.
