VANCOUVER, B.C. - 'Home Is Where The Heart Is', while that might be true in life, that doesn't always ring true to form with professional athletes. Whitecaps FC leading scorer, Kei Kamara and his teammates will take on one of his former clubs, Columbus Crew SC on Saturday afternoon in 'The Buckeye State'.
At 3-0-1, Crew SC are tied for top of the MLS table in what could be their final season in Ohio at Mapfre Stadium. It's an opportunity for Kamara to say thanks, and farewell to the organization that took a chance, draft him and he made his debut with in 2006.
Unfortunately, salt appears to be the mineral of the day for Kamara. His May 12, 2016 trade to New England closed a chapter on a rocky second tenure with Crew SC. Time clearly hasn't healed old wounds.
"No, no love for Columbus," Kamara told reporters on Tuesday. "Definitely no love, but I'm excited to go back, and play in Columbus. I didn't make the last road trip, so I'm definitely looking to being on the road with the guys and putting in a good shift. Columbus is a good team, a really really good team, more over at home. We have to be ready, and I know I'm ready for it."
The 33 year-old veteran is now with his sixth different MLS franchise, and he hasn't always left under the best of circumstances. Going back to Columbus is a date he no doubt has entered into his phone, but it's by no means about proving his detractors wrong.
"No, not at all," Kamara told Red Nation Online. "Nothing to prove with them anymore. It's been a couple of seasons. Neither one of us have done anything since we both left, we're all in the bottom. This is a new season. I don't have to prove anything over there. Definitely getting a win over there would be great."
Whitecaps FC Coach Carl Robinson wasn't able to add fuel to Kamara's second visit back to Columbus, and his first with Vancouver. In fact, the Caps gaffer was not committal as to whether or not Kamara would even make the long trip to the 'The Arch City'.
"I'm sure it will be great if I decide to take him," Robinson shared with local scribes. "That's one thing I'll look at. He was a hero there. He scored a number of goals there, and obviously prior to his trade to New England where he became a hero as well. Kei's certainly a character, we know that, and he's a goal-scoring. If Kei steps on that field at anytime I'm sure that they'll give him the reception he deserves, because he certainly had good times there."
When a player moves on to a new club, sometimes the good times are over looked when that departure isn't always amicable. There was a lot made of the penalty kick furor between Kamara and Frederico Higuian vs Montreal Impact on May 7, 2016. They both wanted to take the penalty, and argued over it like school children on the playground. Now that time has passed, Kamara and Higuain have been able to talk things through.
"I actually saw Pipa in preseason," Kamara said fondly. "We took some time to talk, and all that. You know, we're teammates no matter what happened in the past. MLS is one big family, so no matter between you and players, you're definitely going to see each other again."
While it's certainly one big MLS family on and off the pitch. Kamara is sure to draw ire and angst from vocal Crew SC fans who don't wish him well. Kamara has never been shy about voicing his thoughts and opinions on matters, and that's not always been popular.
Kei Kamara has never been a footballer concerned with what people think about him. He loves playing football, giving back to the community, and helping grow MLS. He's going to Ohio with one goal in mind. Win!! It's essentially a business trip for Whitecaps FC and Kamara. They'd love nothing more than to bounce back after a nil-nil result vs LA Galaxy.
"To be honest, Columbus, I have no other ties with them," revealed Kamara. "Going in there, if I can get a win there, and saying that's the last win we get in Columbus before they move, I'd probably be more happy with that. You don't want to see anybody lose a team that they've supported for a long time. They do have some die-hard fans that have been with the team since 1996. I feel bad for them, but at the same time... I guess business, is business."
Columbus Crew SC Owner Anthony Precourt seems intent on pulling the plug and moving the Crew to Austin, Texas. Nothing has been set in stone just yet. If it was up to Kamara he knows exactly where he would like to see Columbus Crew SC end up.
"If I was the commissioner, I'd probably move them to Vegas."
|