Sierra Leone News: Leone Stars Striker Drops out of Liberia World Cup Clash for Misconduct
By Desmond Tunde Coker
The Sierra Leone Football Association in a press statement issue on Wednesday August 21, 2019, confirmed that a decision has been taken to drop Sierra Leone international striker Kei Ansu Kamara from the national senior team Leone Stars effective today 21st August, 2019 because of consistent breach of professional conduct.
The Association declined to state what constitutes the misconduct that warrant Kamara’s suspension.
The statement further said that Kei Kamara’s official invitation to join the Leone Stars squad for the Liberia vs. Sierra Leone World Cup qualifiers in September has been revoked with immediate effect.
A further disciplinary hearing on the consistent breach of professional conduct by Kei Kamara will be conducted by the Sierra Leone Football Association.
Kei Ansu Kamara born 1 September 1984 is a Sierra Leonean international footballer who plays as a striker for Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids. In 2015, Kamara tied for top scorer in MLS with 22 goals, losing out to Sebastian Giovinco on the Golden Boot on fewer assists. He is one of only 10 players to have scored 100 goals in MLS history, achieving the landmark in 300 appearances.
Kei was among the group of young players that nearly qualify in the 2017 African Cup of Nation scoring the equalizer against host nation Ivory Coast in a 1–1 draw. He has been in recent time Sierra Leone talisman scoring goals for the Leone stars but the Sierra Leone football Association has stated that due to his consistence professional miss conduct he has been dropped for further disciplinary hearing.
In two weeks time from now Sierra Leone senior national male team Leone Stars will play away to Liberia national team Lone Star in Monrovia.
Is it timely for Sierra Leone Football Association to take such decision? This is the question some Sierra Leoneans are asking. According the Mohamed Sahid Kamara, a seasoned football administrator, this is not the right time for the FA to take such a decision because we have just two weeks to play against Liberia, who have a strong team, as the suspension of Kamara will give them some advantage.
Others said the action taken by the football association is right because there should be discipline in football.
Kei hasn’t response yet. Kei has appeared for Sierra Leone 27 times and have scored four goals for his country — 2 against Sao Tomea and 2 against Ivory Coast.”
