Growing up in Espoo and moving to England at the age of 12, Glen Kamara, the star of the Owls, now speaks Finnish in front of the cameras for the first time. will show a mini-documentary about Kamara in the broadcast of tonight’s Bosnia match.
Glen Chamber and Tim Sparv share a warm hug when they encounter a beach sauna on the pier in Helsinki. Exactly a year ago, they played together in the middle of the first championship in the history of the Finnish men’s national football team.
Since then, Sparv has ended his career. Kamara continues in the midfield of Huuhkaji and delights the fans with his smooth movements and precise feeds.
Sparvia and Kamara are also united by the fact that neither is the primary language of speech. Sparv is from Oravais and speaks Swedish as his mother tongue. Kamara moved from Espoo to London at the age of 12 and speaks English as her mother tongue in front of the cameras.
– Moro! All right? Sparv asks.
– Yeah, all right, Kamara answers.
For many, Kamara’s good knowledge of the Finnish language may come as a surprise. However, Kamara, who was born in Tampere and grew up in Espoo, has been attending school in Finnish since he was a child. Language skills are still preserved, but in public the player has so far wanted to speak English.
– At the beginning, we always spoke English to each other on the national team. I do not understand why! Your Finnish language is better than mine, Sparv laughs at Kamara.
Kamara wore the Finnish shirt for the first time already in 2012 in the national team under the age of 18. Kamara’s parents are from Sierra Leone, but it has always been self-evident to represent Finland for the player himself.
– It was a really easy decision. I was born here and lived here for many years. I feel Finnish.
– It’s great to put on a Finland shirt and always come to Finland. Everyone always says that you speak Finnish, you speak Finnish, Kamara laughs.
Already four seasons in the Rangers
The peak of Kamara’s club team season at Glasgow Rangers hit an important spot. Rarely shining in scorer statistics, Kamara scored an important hit for his team in the European League semi-finals against Leipzig with a millimeter finish.
– It was like a feed! I don’t know what happened. I just pulled and hoped, and then it happened, Kamara times.
The Rangers were very disappointed in the final in Seville when they lost to Eintracht Frankfurt in a penalty shootout. Kamara was also in the final opening and was replaced before extra time.
Up to 100,000 Rangers supporters traveled to Spain to watch the final, according to values. The chapter tells you how big the company is.
– Many of my friends have come here to see the matches. They say they’ve been watching Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool or Everton, but that vibe can’t be found anywhere else. If we win, we can go anywhere, but if we lose, we should probably stay home, Kamara says.
The Rangers have made another rise to the top of Europe as the club went bankrupt in 2012 and had to restart Scotland’s third division. Even in the sub-series, the club was able to sell more than 40,000 tickets to its home matches on a regular basis.
– In this club you have to win every match against anyone. If we played against Real Madrid, fans would say come on, you have to win. Pretty cool, Kamara says with a smile on her lips.
Kamara moved to the Rangers from Dundee United in January 2019. Since then, the Prize Cabinet has been filled with the Scottish Championship and Cup victory.
– The first reason I came here was the manager Steven Gerrard. Everyone knows him as a player. I threw my flap to my friend that I would never come to Celtic or Rangers because I wanted to go back to London or England. But when Gerrard called, there came a feeling that this is the place for me, Kamara times.
In the middle of last season, Gerrard moved to the English Premier League at the helm of Aston Villa. The Premier League has also been in Kamara’s mind throughout his career. In the Arsenal national team, he played one league cup match.
– When I played against Rangers, I thought the level was good, but I want to go to England because the level is even better. When I came here, I found that the level is really hard and that this is the best place to develop.
Kamara’s contract with Rangers will continue until the summer of 2025.
– I would never say that I would not go anywhere else in Europe to play. I would like to play in the Premier League, but if any other place were good for me, I would go there.
Spherical leader
In the national team, Kamara has an increasing responsibility for Sparvin, Paulus Arajuuren and Joona Toivion discontinued. Kamara is only 26 years old, but has already experienced a lot in the national team.
– In my eyes, you’ve always been a ball leader on the field. Are you going to take on a bigger role now as a spiritual leader? Sparv asks.
– I’ve never been a player who talks a lot on the field. I’d rather just try my best with and without the ball. I try to do stuff on the field and hopefully I can do good stuff. I always want a ball. That is one of my strengths, Kamara replies.
Kamara played their first A national match in November 2017 and established their position the following fall. Through the junior matches, the team was already familiar, so adjusting was easy.
– It was easy to join the team. I already knew a couple of guys and everyone else was really friendly. And you helped me as captain in midfield, Kamara tells Sparville and laughs.
When Kamara broke into the national team, Huuhkajat played his game in an evacuation due to the renovation of the Olympic Stadium. Kamara remembers seeing Finland’s first match at the stadium against Spain in 2007.
– I always asked why we never play at Stikika! I always wanted to play there. Now we have played and the atmosphere is good. North Curve, they’re good fans, Kamara says.
Kamara and Sparv were together realizing the big dream of Finnish football, ie playing in value competitions. Finland did not make it to the Winter Qatar World Championships, but Kamara already has the next dream in mind.
– Hopefully we will get to the next European Championships in Germany. I’ll get you tickets, Kamara promises his former captain.
– I will come and have a look! That’s when I read Kamara on my back, Sparv says.
The fans in today’s match will face Bosnia and Herzegovina in Zenica. A live broadcast of the match and a mini-documentary about Kamara will be available on TV2 and Areena from 21.15.