Ola Kamara was just 18 years old when he faced an early professional crossroads.
His soccer team in his native Norway, Stabaek, won its league championship. But Stabaek did not renew his contract. For a couple of months, Kamara had no idea where he’d land.
That purgatory fueled him.
“You get that awakening when you suddenly know this is the only thing you want to do, and you work even harder when you get that wakeup call,” the striker said last week.
Kamara bounced around Europe, playing for numerous teams, in the ensuing years before signing with Crew SC in February.