{{Short description|Sierra Leonean footballer (born 1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Medo Kamara | image = Mohamed Kamara.jpg | upright = 0.9 | caption = Medo with KuPS in 2006 | full_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|11|16|df=y}} | birth_place = Port Loko, Sierra Leone | height = 1.74 m | position = Defensive midfielder | currentclub = HJS | clubnumber = 6 | youthyears1 = 1999–2002 | youthclubs1 = Sierra Rangers | youthyears2 = 2002–2003 | youthclubs2 = Kallon | years1 = 2006 | clubs1 = KuPS | caps1 = 23 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2007–2010 | clubs2 = HJK | caps2 = 91 | goals2 = 13 | years3 = 2010–2013 | clubs3 = Partizan | caps3 = 52 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2013–2016 | clubs4 = Bolton Wanderers | caps4 = 52 | goals4 = 3 | years5 = 2015 | clubs5 = → Maccabi Haifa (loan) | caps5 = 16 | goals5 = 1 | years6 = 2016 | clubs6 = HJK | caps6 = 21 | goals6 = 1 | years7 = 2016–2018 | clubs7 = Kuwait SC | caps7 = | goals7 = | years8 = 2019 | clubs8 = Kazma | caps8 = | goals8 = | years9 = 2020 | clubs9 = Haka | caps9 = 18 | goals9 = 1 | years10= 2022–2023 | clubs10= Gnistan | caps10= 31 | goals10= 1 | years11= 2024– | clubs11= HJS | caps11= 27 | goals11= 2 | nationalyears1 = 2003 | nationalteam1 = Sierra Leone U17 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2011–2021 | nationalteam2 = Sierra Leone | nationalcaps2 = 33 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | club-update = 17 October 2024 | nationalteam-update = 30 September 2022 }}
'''Mohamed Kamara''' (born 16 November 1987), widely known as '''Medo''', is a Sierra Leonean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Finnish club HJS.
==Early life== Kamara was born in Port Loko and raised in Bo, Sierra Leone. Both of his parents were said to have been killed during the civil war in Sierra Leone.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://sport.blic.rs/Fudbal/Evropski-fudbal/190774/Partizanov-Kamara-ne-moze-da-igra-za-Finsku | title=Partizanov Kamara ne može da igra za Finsku | language=Serbian | publisher=blic.rs | date=5 January 2011 | accessdate=3 December 2012}}</ref> However, this is a claim that has since been denied by Kamara himself.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/10217724.I_have_come_here_to_win__says__angry__Medo/ | title=I have come here to win, says 'angry' Medo | publisher=theboltonnews.co.uk | date=9 February 2013 | accessdate=9 February 2013}}</ref>
==Club career==
===Early career=== Kamara started playing football in his school at the age of seven. His older brother, Kemoh Kamara, was teaching in the school and also taught football. At the age of 12, Kamara joined his first club, Sierra Rangers. His football career took a great step forward after signing for top division club Kallon in 2002.
===Career in Finland=== [[File:Jani Hartikainen and Ilja Venalainen KuPS with Medo HJK.jpg|thumb|left|Kamara ''(wearing stripes)'' in action for HJK versus former club KuPS, 2008]] After playing for the national youth selection at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship held in Finland, Kamara escaped along with several teammates from their accommodation and applied for asylum.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135243403393 |title=The captain and the man who jumped ship |last=Nieminen |first=Tommi |date=8 February 2009 |website=Helsingin Sanomat |access-date=16 March 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302030834/http://www.hs.fi/english/article/1135243403393 |archive-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> After he got asylum, Kamara was ineligible to play professional football until his 18th birthday. During the waiting period, he trained with LehPa-77 in Kontiolahti. Kamara signed his first contract with Veikkausliiga club KuPS before the 2006 season. After a season and relegation with the Kuopio-based club, he moved to HJK in the Finnish capital.
In his first year with HJK, Kamara played in every league match and was voted for the club MVP of the season. In March 2008, he signed a new three-year contract, which would keep him with HJK until the end of the 2010.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=5334 | title=HJK ja Medo jatkosopimukseen | language=Finnish | publisher=hjk.fi | date=4 March 2008 | accessdate=31 August 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724211822/http://www.hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=5334 | archivedate=24 July 2011 }}</ref> In April 2010, Kamara signed a contract extension at HJK to stay with the Finnish champions until June 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=7674 | title=Medo jatkaa HJK:ssa vuoden 2011 kesäkuun loppuun | language=Finnish | publisher=hjk.fi | date=6 April 2010 | accessdate=31 August 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011154412/http://hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=7674 | archivedate=11 October 2010 }}</ref> On 30 August 2010, he played his farewell match for HJK, in a 3–1 victory against IFK Mariehamn.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=8138 | title=HJK 3–1 -voittoon – Hieno ilta päättyi Medon jäähyväisiin | language=Finnish | publisher=hjk.fi | date=30 August 2010 | accessdate=31 August 2010 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124005425/http://hjk.fi/uutiset/arkisto.php?hae=8138 | archivedate=24 November 2010 }}</ref>
Despite the fact that he left HJK before the end of the season, Kamara was awarded for the 2010 Veikkausliiga Player of the Year.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.palloliitto.fi/uutiset/suomen-palloliitto/palloliitto-ja-veikkausliiga-palkitsivat-vuoden-parhaita | title=Palloliitto ja Veikkausliiga palkitsivat vuoden parhaita | language=Finnish | publisher=palloliitto.fi | date=15 November 2010 | accessdate=20 April 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525200252/http://www.palloliitto.fi/uutiset/suomen-palloliitto/palloliitto-ja-veikkausliiga-palkitsivat-vuoden-parhaita | archive-date=25 May 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Partizan=== On 31 August 2010, a day after his last match for HJK, Kamara signed a three-year contract with Serbian side Partizan. He was presented with together with Pierre Boya.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=665&akcija=&prikaz1=2010&prikaz2=8&sec=2 | title=Kamara i Boya nove akvizicije | language=Serbian | publisher=partizan.rs | date=31 August 2010 | accessdate=31 August 2010}}</ref> Kamara made his debut for the club on 4 September 2010 in a home fixture against Hajduk Kula. He played for the full duration of the match as Hajduk were beaten 2–0. Kamara also made five appearances in the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League group stage.
===Bolton Wanderers=== [[File:Chelsea 2 Bolton Wanderers 1 (15165259748).jpg|thumb|right|Kamara ''(centre)'' playing for Bolton Wanderers against Chelsea in the League Cup in 2014]] On 31 January 2013, Kamara signed for English Championship club Bolton Wanderers on a three-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee, subject to international clearance.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21281203 | title=Bolton: Medo Kamara, Cian Bolger & Steve De Ridder sign | publisher=BBC Sport| date=31 January 2013 | access-date=1 February 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/kamara-deal-done-31.1.13-631932.aspx | title=Kamara signs for Wanderers | publisher=bwfc.co.uk | date=31 January 2013 | accessdate=1 February 2013}}</ref> His debut came on 23 February as he came on as a substitute in Bolton's 4–1 win versus Hull City.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3519625 | title=Bolton 4 – 1 Hull City | publisher=bwfc.co.uk | date=23 February 2013 | accessdate=23 February 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104204144/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/fixtures-results/match-report/index.aspx?matchid=3519625 | archive-date=4 January 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> His first goal for the club came on 30 March against Charlton Athletic as he scored Bolton's second in a 2–3 defeat.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/21909208 | title=Charlton 3 – 2 Bolton | publisher=BBC Sport| date=30 March 2013 | access-date=27 May 2013}}</ref>
On 19 January 2015, Kamara was officially loaned to Maccabi Haifa for the remainder of the 2014–15 season.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/medo-kamara-officially-loaned-to-maccabi-haifa-2213356.aspx | title=Medo Kamara officially loaned to Maccabi Haifa | publisher=bwfc.co.uk | date=19 January 2015 | accessdate=19 January 2015}}</ref>
After returning from loan to Bolton, Kamara failed to make any competitive appearance for the club, before being released by mutual agreement in January 2016.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/medo-kamara-leaves-bolton-wanderers-2901971.aspx | title=Medo Kamara leaves Bolton Wanderers | publisher=bwfc.co.uk | date=14 January 2016 | accessdate=17 January 2016}}</ref>
===Return to HJK=== In March 2016, Kamara returned to his former club HJK.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.hjk.fi/uutiset/Miehet-3596 | title=MEDO PALAA KOTIIN | language=Finnish | publisher=hjk.fi | date=3 March 2016 | accessdate=3 March 2016}}</ref>
===Kazma=== On 31 January 2019, it was confirmed that Kamara had signed for another Kuwaiti side, Kazma SC in the Kuwait Premier League.<ref>[https://footballsierraleone.net/2019/01/31/former-bolton-midfielder-kamara-joins-new-kuwaiti-club-kazma/ Former Bolton midfielder Kamara joins new Kuwaiti club Kazma], footballsierraleone.net, 31 January 2019</ref> Kamara had been without club for six months since his departure from Kuwait SC.
In 2022 Medo signed contract with Finnish second division club Gnistan. In 2024 he joined Finnish club HJS, which plays third tier football in Finland.
==International career== Internationally, Kamara played for the Sierra Leonean under-17 team that finished runner-up of the 2003 African U-17 Championship in Swaziland. He was also a member of the same team at the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland.
By 2010, he had received Finnish citizenship.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.karjalainen.fi/Karjalainen/Urheilu/jalkapalloilija_medo_sai_suomen_kansalaisuuden_5979632.html | title=Jalkapalloilija Medo sai Suomen kansalaisuuden | language=Finnish | publisher=karjalainen.fi | date=19 March 2010 | access-date=16 March 2025| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100223050836/http://www.karjalainen.fi/Karjalainen/Urheilu/jalkapalloilija_medo_sai_suomen_kansalaisuuden_5979632.html | archive-date=23 February 2010 | url-status=dead }}</ref> After spending seven years in Finland, Kamara has expressed his wish to play for the Finnish national team, but FIFA ruled this out as they rejected his application to play for Finland in December 2010.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.palloliitto.fi/uutiset/suomen-palloliitto/fifa-ei-myonna-medolle-edustusoikeutta-huuhkajiin | title=FIFA ei myönnä Medolle edustusoikeutta Huuhkajiin | language=Finnish | publisher=palloliitto.fi | date=9 December 2010 | accessdate=12 December 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061126/http://www.palloliitto.fi/uutiset/suomen-palloliitto/fifa-ei-myonna-medolle-edustusoikeutta-huuhkajiin | archive-date=8 May 2014 | url-status=dead }}</ref> After FIFA's decision, Kamara announced his availability for the Sierra Leonean national team and was subsequently called up to face Niger on 27 March 2011.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/20806 | title=Finnish citizen set for S/Leone debut | publisher=sierraexpressmedia.com | date=15 March 2011 | accessdate=17 March 2011 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110318010131/http://www.sierraexpressmedia.com/archives/20806 | archivedate=18 March 2011 }}</ref> Finally, Kamara debuted for his homeland in that match playing the full 90 minutes.
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {{Updated|20 March 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup !colspan="2"|League cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |KuPS |2006 |Veikkausliiga |23||0||4||2||9||1||0||0||colspan="2"|—||36||3 |- |rowspan="5"|HJK |2007 |Veikkausliiga |26||2||4||0||7||1||4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Cup}}||0||colspan="2"|—||41||3 |- |2008 |Veikkausliiga |26||4||5||0||7||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||38||4 |- |2009 |Veikkausliiga |23||3||1||0||8||2||2{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League|name=UEL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||34||6 |- |2010 |Veikkausliiga |16||4||3||1||6||1||4{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League|name=UCL}}||1||colspan="2"|—||29||7 |- !colspan="2"|Total !91!!13!!13!!1!!28!!4!!10!!2!!colspan="2"|—!!142!!20 |- |rowspan="4"|Partizan |2010–11 |Serbian SuperLiga |18||0||6||0||colspan="2"|–||5{{efn|name=UCL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||29||0 |- |2011–12 |Serbian SuperLiga |26||0||4||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|Four appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League}}||0||colspan="2"|—||36||0 |- |2012–13 |Serbian SuperLiga |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||6{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||14||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !52!!0!!10!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!17!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!79!!0 |- |rowspan="4"|Bolton Wanderers |2012–13 |Championship |12||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||12||1 |- |2013–14 |Championship |35||2||2||0||2||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||39||2 |- |2014–15 |Championship |5||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||6||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !52!!3!!2!!0!!3!!0!!0!!0!!colspan="2"|—!!57!!3 |- |Maccabi Haifa (loan) |2014–15 |Israeli Premier League |16||1||1||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||17||1 |- |HJK |2016 |Veikkausliiga |21||1||3||0||0||0||6{{efn|name=UEL}}||0||colspan="2"|—||30||1 |- |rowspan="3"|Kuwait SC |2016–17 |Kuwait Premier League |?||2||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?||colspan="2"|—||?||2 |- |2017–18 |Kuwait Premier League |?||1||?||?||colspan="2"|–||?||?||colspan="2"|—||?||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !?!!3!!?!!?!!colspan="2"|–!!?!!?!!colspan="2"|–!!?!!3 |- |FC Haka |2020 |Veikkausliiga |18||1||3||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||colspan="2"|—||21||1 |- |rowspan="3"|IF Gnistan |2022 |Ykkönen |8||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0||colspan="2"|—||8||0 |- |2023 |Ykkönen |23||1||7||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|—||2{{efn|Appearances in Relegation playoffs}}||0||32||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !31!!1!!7!!0!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|—!!2!!0!!40!!1 |- |HJS |2024 |Kakkonen |27||2||0||0||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||colspan="2"|—||27||2 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !331!!25!!43!!3!!40!!5!!33!!2!!2!!0!!449!!34 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year |- !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="10"|Sierra Leone |2011||4||0 |- |2012||5||1 |- |2013||4||0 |- |2014||6||1 |- |2015||4||0 |- |2016||5||0 |- |2017||1||0 |- |2018||1||0 |- |2020||2||0 |- |2021||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!33!!2 |}
:''Scores and results list Sierra Leone's goal tally first.'' {| class="wikitable" |- ! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition |- | 1 || 2 June 2012 || National Stadium, Freetown || {{fb|Cape Verde}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 2–1 || 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |- | 2 || 19 November 2014 || Stade Tata Raphaël, Kinshasa || {{fb|DR Congo}} || align=center | 1–0 || align=center | 1–3 || 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |}
==Honours== '''KuPS''' * Finnish League Cup: 2006
'''HJK''' * Veikkausliiga: 2009 * Finnish Cup: 2008
'''Partizan''' * Serbian SuperLiga: 2010–11, 2011–12 * Serbian Cup: 2010–11
'''Individual''' * Veikkausliiga Player of the Year: 2010<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120727052452/http://www.veikkausliiga.com/News.aspx?type=1&ID=41221 veikkausliiga.com] {{in lang|fi}}</ref> * Serbian SuperLiga Team of the Season: 2011–12
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{Soccerway|mohamed-kamara/8481}} * {{FIFA player|200278}} * {{UEFA player|1903944}} * {{NFT player|42926}}
{{2011–12 SuperLiga Team of the Season}} {{Sierra Leone squad 2021 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kamara, Medo}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:People from Port Loko District Category:People from Bo, Sierra Leone Category:Finnish people of Sierra Leonean descent Category:Naturalized citizens of Finland Category:Sierra Leonean men's footballers Category:Sierra Leone men's international footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:2021 Africa Cup of Nations players Category:Kuwait Premier League players Category:Serbian SuperLiga players Category:English Football League players Category:Veikkausliiga players Category:Israeli Premier League players Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players Category:FK Partizan players Category:Kuopion Palloseura players Category:Maccabi Haifa F.C. players Category:Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi players Category:Kuwait SC players Category:Kazma SC players Category:FC Haka players Category:IF Gnistan players Category:HJS Akatemia players Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate men's footballers Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in England Category:Expatriate men's footballers in England Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Finland Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Finland Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Israel Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Israel Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Serbia Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Serbia Category:Sierra Leonean expatriate sportspeople in Kuwait Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Kuwait Category:Refugees in Finland Category:Sierra Leonean refugees