One of the most appealing attributes of Sporting KC isn’t the awesome new stadium, the electric atmosphere, or the fact that the club is the pride and joy of Kansas City athletics; instead it’s the character that comes out on the field and plays a hard game each time from start to finish.
Whether it is the soccer-playing French fashion designer, the Danish goalkeeper who overcame a gambling addition to become the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year last year, or the war refugee turned soccer star with a goal celebration that has captured the hearts of thousands, the team has more personality than most.
I recently sat down with Sporting KC forward Kei Kamara to chat.
BP:
Your family was present during the civil war in Sierra Leone, is that right?
Kei: Yea
BP: Can you recall anything from when your family fled to Gambia?
Kei: Yea, I mean obviously it was tough times during the civil war but my family always stuck together which was great. You know, it’s the best thing for people to do when it comes to difficult situations and my family did well with that. Yea, I remember it. It was vivid during the war. Going to Gambia with my family was a trip -- I was excited as a kid, you know, moving to a different country. I mean, you’re going away from the civil war but we’re moving to a different country so it was very exciting.
BP: What was it like moving from Africa to the West Coast of the United States?
Kei: Well actually before going to California, we were in Maryland for 6 months. We were living with my uncle, my mom’s older brother, so it was a big change! Coming from hot Gambia, it’s kind of like a desert, and going to Maryland in October in the cold. It was definitely a change but again I was very excited.And we were heading to America, you know? America is like the heaven of third world countries, or places around the world, EVERYBODY wants to go there.
BP: Copper Pot Productions created a short film, KEI, about your life. Right? What was it like making that?
Kei: With Copper Pot, it was probably going to be one of these sit down 5-minute chats about my story, where I came from and really just getting together with them to help work on Schools for Salone -- to help with this orphanage project that I’m doing in Sierra Leone. Then they ended up following me around and getting some really great videos and they said, “You know what? Instead of a 5-minute one, we’re going to make it a 45-minute documentary where we can show your fans where you come from and a little bit of your history. So people can know what the donations and everything that they are giving are going to.”
BP: In that movie, you said something about it being “incredible” coming back and playing for your home nation. What was that like?
Kei: Amazing. You know, I’m a US citizen, so I could have played for America but me going back home to Sierra Leone and playing for Sierra Leone made me the person I am today. It made me stronger; it gave me all the achievement that I have had in the four years that I have been playing in the league. Finally being able to be part of the national team felt pretty good.
BP: Alright, alright. Let’s talk a little bit about #heartshapedhands. Where’d that come from?
Kei: Can’t tell you.
BP: What? You can’t tell me? laughs
Kei: Nope, never said it before. All I can say is that me and a few people from Sporting are working on my Kei Kamara Heart-Shaped Hands Foundation that’s just all about giving back to the kids in Sierra Leone right now. So hopefully when that Foundation goes up, the heart-shaped hands will start meaning a lot more.
BP: Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift –
Kei: Sweet laughs
BP: - both use the heart-shaped hands.
Kei: I taught Justin Bieber how to do it. Yea, J Biebs and I go way back. No, it’s pretty amazing how many people use heart-shaped hands. You know, for me I seriously just feel like I started it. laughs Sometimes you do stuff and you feel like ‘I was one of the originals to do that!’ even though it has been around. Obviously Justin Bieber would come out and do it and it was just SO cool.
BP: Yea, so what about the player overseas? The “Eleven of Hearts,” I believe is what he trademarked?
Kei: Is that the name of it? Eleven of Hearts? Okay, yea, yea. Gareth Bale, from Tottenham. Obviously I think everybody does their heart-shaped hands differently. He does it with a little bit of a curl into it, you know, while I do all of my fingers straight. Smart idea. Smart PR move from him, to trademark it, and from whatever he gets from it? But I think it’s a universal thing. I don’t think that anybody should trademark anything that’s universal to a lot of people. You know, something that means different things to different people.
BP: Right, no kidding. It’s like trademarking a peace sign or something like that.
Kei: Yea, I should trademark a peace sign. There we go. laughs Or the middle finger. Why not?
BP: That works. laughs So do you really have a Kei Kamara’s custom-made Chipotle card?
Kei: Yea, yea! I can show it to you after this in my locker. I definitely do. I mean, second year in a row rolling with my custom-made Chipotle card. The fans got me that card though, from Twitter. The fans introduced me to Chipotle. Well, I introduced THEM to Chipotle and they in turn introduced me to the Chipotle HQ because they talk about me so much to them. They were like ‘There is one guy that talks about you ALL the time.’ So Chipotle reached out to me and said ‘Thank you for promoting us.’ But I’m not doing it for the promotion. As a gesture, they gave me that card.
BP: Speaking of, when you came back from loan to Norwich City, you bought a lot of burritos didn’t you?
Kei: laughs Yea, it was fun! I didn’t think it was going to be that much. I was thinking 25-50 people and it turned out to be a couple hundred. It was amazing. The money doesn’t really mean anything, you know, it’s more about the smile and the family welcome that the people showed me. They showed me they care for me here. You know, Chipotle and I go far laughs
BP: Your fans obviously love you, and you love your fans. You’re all over social media. Is there one platform you prefer over another?
Kei: Actually I’m on Instagram right now, stalking a few of the US Women’s National Team members. I don’t think my fiancé would like that. Laughs But, you know, I love Twitter. You’re really connected with the fans. That’s what it’s for! They get to know you better, they see what you do on the daily, and with Instagram it’s all about the pictures. All of them are good, but Twitter is great.
BP: So do you like the new Instagram Video?
Kei: Yea, I definitely love my Instagram Video. laughs It’s the new thing and I’m really having fun with it. I was at Worlds of Fun yesterday, and you CANNOT have a phone on the rides but I did just because I wanted to put something on Instagram Video. laughs
BP: Actually, my last question has to do with your fiancé. Do you have a date set?
Kei: Yea man, I’m getting married next summer.
BP: Wow! Are you ready for that?
Kei: Definitely, I mean why not? I’m getting older; I’m not getting any younger. It’s good though, she has helped me a lot. She has helped me to really find a home in Kansas City and it’s one of the biggest reasons that I’m happy here and I love it here. It’s because her and her family really welcomed me.
