Crew SC's Ola Kamara on Norway national team recall: "It was fantastic"

Ola Kamara

OBETZ, Ohio ā€“ Columbus Crew SC striker Ola Kamara is back to work preparing for the biggest games of his MLS career against Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Championship. But for a few days during the international break, Kamara took a break from Toronto preparation to make his first appearance for the Norwegian national team since 2014.


Kamara had been outspoken about his national team snubs, citing his MLS goal-scoring tally ā€“ 35 goals in the MLS regular season and postseason across two years ā€“ and Norwayā€™s struggles, and often wondering what more he had to do to earn his return.


His chance came last week in a pair of friendlies for Norway, and Kamara got a start and a substitute appearance in his return. And while a pair of losses to Macedonia and Slovakia were ā€œdisappointing,ā€ the Columbus striker said he was thrilled to be back.


ā€œIt was fantastic to be back and see the guys and play with my national team again,ā€ he said at Columbus training Friday. ā€œItā€™s an unbelievable feeling.ā€


Kamara said he and his teammates ā€œgot slaughtered in the mediaā€ thanks to the pair of results, which was an adjustment for him. But he said his spirits are high regardless.


ā€œI got a lot of positive energy out of that,ā€ he said. ā€œFor me, Iā€™ll take that out of [the experience]. Iā€™m in there again and Iā€™m competing for that spot. So itā€™s a good thing for me.ā€


But as a striker, Kamara canā€™t shake the disappointment of not scoring. He said he didnā€™t get any feedback on his performances from the coaching staff, but was critical of his own lack of goals.


ā€œI think they kind of liked a little bit about what they saw,ā€ he said. ā€œOf course, I think they wanted a goal out of it. For me, that was the disappointing thing. I wanted to come and show that I was a goalscorer. I got some chances and I was maybe the most dangerous striker, but I didnā€™t score. So Iā€™m happy, but a little disappointed too.ā€


Crew SC boss Gregg Berhalter said that while rest would have been ideal for Kamara before the Toronto clash, he was happy for the striker to get the chance heā€™s been looking for.


ā€œItā€™s a good opportunity for him,ā€ Berhalter said. ā€œFor him, it was a long time coming and it was great for him to be able to get back into the fold.ā€


Kamara admitted he was a bit sore, but the wave heā€™s riding from his teamā€™s playoff run and a return to the Norway picture means heā€™s got very few complaints.


ā€œIā€™m getting a lot of positive energy these days,ā€ he said. ā€œFrom two big games going back to the national team with the opportunity to maybe play in an MLS [Cup] Final too, if youā€™re not happy and not positive now, youā€™re never going to be.ā€