ISL: NorthEast United's 'restless' journeyman striker Kamara and the legacy of his celebration

Guwahati: Diomansy Kamara has played for 10 clubs across France, Italy, England, Scotland, Turkey, and now India. The Senegalese striker, who signed for Indian Super League club NorthEast United this year, has scored twice and created three goals in 11 appearances so far. Come next season, he may be anywhere — from an established club that wants to use his experience to a country where football is still nascent, and on the hunt for well-known names from the Premier League. Also, since Kamara is the typical journeyman striker — restless, always on the move and hungry to make his mark in as many leagues as possible. It takes a unique type of player to travel so much, particularly as a striker. This, after all, is a position that comes with a lot of burden, and is one which is judged only on the number of goals scored. It’s possibly easier to stick around at one club than to play for a dozen and prove yourself at each one of them. For Kamara though, it’s the other way round. [caption id=“attachment_2531676” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Diomansy Kamara with his trademark celebration. ISL[/caption] “I love playing new styles of football, learning under new managers and experiencing new cultures. My daughters can now speak multiple languages and for me to have come from Senegal, and gone to so many countries feels good,” the 35-year-old told Firstpost. Kamara has had to evolve his game for India as well. Used to playing behind the striker or alone on top, he’s been manning the channels for NorthEast United as the club is now on the verge of an unlikely entry into the semifinals after their 3-2 win over FC Pune City on Wednesday. Kamara scored in that win too. “I’m still fast, it’s not like that, but of course your pace goes with age. However, my experience comes in at this point and when you have the experience you need to know how to use it,” he said. Kamara’s parents and family are ’totally okay and very supportive’ of his decision to move around so much. He’s not unique — football is littered with players who have travelled far and wide in the search for clubs. Kamara is different because it’s not so much the money or the game that takes him there, but his personality. “I just can’t sit in one place — I am restless that way and I am happier moving from one place to another. But me and my family, we are happy to move around and experience so many places,” he said. It’s not just moving around, but even adjusting to the different types of football styles: “It wasn’t easy to adjust to the styles of football, especially when I came to England it was so much more physical compared to Italy. But you learn, you grow as a player and I eventually stayed back in England for a lot of years.” Kamara’s most notable stint came at Fulham between 2007-11 (which included loan moves to Celtic and Leicester City), when he helped them beat relegation after a dramatic set of results in the final gameweek of the 2007-08 Premier League . His two goals at Manchester City in the run-in were vital in sealing an unlikely three points — keeping the Cottagers up on goal difference. But before he cost Fulham a whopping £6 million, it was Harry Redknapp who brought him to England, when Portsmouth signed him from Modena, describing him as ‘a quality striker who some of the top clubs in Europe were interested in.’ He lasted only for a season here, which paved the way for a move to West Bromwich Albion — and two remarkable memories forged with The Baggies. The first one was his 23-goal season after which he won the Championship Player of the Year award and the second was his celebration aimed towards the club’s chairman Jeremy Peace. Peace had refused to sell Kamara when West Brom were relegated and when Kamara scored after a return from injury, he wiggled his hand near his right ear. “When the team went down I had a chance to leave and the chairman wouldn’t let me go. It was to say: ‘Are you crazy? I want to move’. I still do it. It’s what I do when I score. At first it was to say I am angry to stay. Now I will always do it,” Kamara had told the Daily Mail in 2008 . Seven years later, fans at the Indira Gandhi stadium in Guwahati join him in the same celebration in the ISL. From Turkey to Italy to India, it’s popularity hasn’t waned. And knowing Kamara, he will certainly take it to another club in another country. “It’s not that I don’t care about legacy, it’s nice when you go back to a place and people recognise you, it’s great when you can stay at one club for four-five-six years, but it’s also great when you move around so much and make a mark.”