May 27, 2016 By Sahr Morris Jr.
Sierra Leone international striker Alhaji ‘Andriano’ Kamara is set to make his debut for the U.S Major League Soccer (MLS) side D.C. United this Friday against Sporting Kansas City at the Children’s Mercy Park Stadium in Kansas City.
The 22-year-old forward signed for the MLS club after medical endorsement that he was okay to play football again following an earlier ban from the game due to a congenital heart disease.
However, according to D.C. United Coach, Ben Olsen, the Sierra Leonean forward, who signed two weeks ago for the club, will travel with the squad to Kansas City and might play few minutes of the game as he continues his build up to full fitness.
“We have a plan for him in place, and that’s getting him some time in games but pushing him along daily to get his lungs bigger,” Olsen said. “A few minutes wouldn’t hurt him.”
Kamara, who has chosen to wear the number 45 jersey as the 9 was not available, said he was happy and ready to put behind him the trauma of heart defect.
He told the club’s website: “I’m really glad to be here and am looking forward to playing my first game for D.C. United and be a part of this family.”
Kamara also explained his reaction when he was first told about the heart problem. “I was shocked and I remember saying, ‘Why now?’ But I was positive and told myself that I was too young and too healthy to not play football. I had to find options.”
The former FC Kallon forward, who scored a stunning 16 goals in two seasons for the Swedish defending champions, also said he was determined to put the past behind him. “I’m putting this behind me and concentrating on the field,’’ he said.
Kamara was told in February about his congenital heart disease, a deviation of the coronary arteries which potentially could result in sudden death at the maximal cardiac effort.
An investigation by Allen Taylor (United’s cardiologist and chief of cardiology at Washington’s MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute) and Matthew Martinez (cardiology consultant for MLS) was done and the striker was cleared to resume his bright career.