By Sigismond Nicol
English Premier League Club Arsenal announced their new intake of academy scholars with a Sierra Leonean player among the recruits by the name of Osman Kamara is another promising youngster who has joined Arsenal U18s as full time, first year scholar ahead of the new season.
Osman Kamara admits kicking off his junior career with Senrab FC convinced him he could have a pro career. Born in Sierra Leone, he is eligible to play for England or Sierra Leone at youth level.
In his first word after the deal was completed, Osman told arsenal.com: “I started playing for my first-ever Sunday league team when I was eight years old. It was called Senrab FC in east London, which is where a few famous players have started off down the years. It was a real eye-opener for me that if I really want it and if I work hard and sharpen my technique, then I could make a career and a journey out of football.
“I played with Senrab for two seasons and then I had a trial at Crystal Palace – that was for seven weeks and was my first time going to an academy environment. It was all new to me, the intensity, the level and it was seriously different from what I was used to, so it took a while for me to adjust on the trial. I thought I played well, but it just wasn’t to be there. Funny story, but I actually met Noah Cooper (fellow first-year scholar) while I was there.
“It was such a good feeling when Arsenal signed me, especially because it’s my boyhood club. My family were extremely proud of me and it gave me a real confidence boost, and after that I was playing really well because I knew that I was good enough to play for a club academy in London.”
