Louisville City FC has added youth to its side with the signing of midfielder John Thomas Kamara, an 18-year-old Sierra Leone international arriving by way of Florida powerhouse Montverde Academy.
A deal with Kamara, who goes by “Jay Tee,” is pending league and federation approval. He’s reporting immediately to begin preseason training with the boys in purple on Monday.
“Jay Tee is an exciting and creative young player,” said LouCity’s Head Coach and Sporting Director John Hackworth. “He trialed with us last summer, impressing our staff and players with his skill, imagination and explosiveness. We know he comes from an excellent academy background and look forward to watching him develop at the professional level.”
Similar to LouCity defender Jonathan Gomez, Kamara is a young talent who sees himself one day playing in Europe. Efforts to bring him to America were sparked three years ago as he came up through his local club, Alaska FC. Kamara was called in to represent the West Africa nation Sierra Leone at a U20 tournament in Liberia where his agent, Jordie Isen, said, “Jay Tee was the talk of the town.”
The move worked out, as Kamara’s now the eighth player this school year to sign a professional contract out of the Soccer Institute at Montverde Academy. Before last year’s visit to Louisville, Kamara also went on trial with a first division club in Denmark, but momentum slowed as the COVID-19 pandemic put a pause on soccer last spring.
“He’s a lovely person and, talent-wise, he’s very unique with his ability,” said Montverde coach Mike Potempa. “I believe he’ll do really, really well once he earns his opportunity at Louisville City FC. This is player who after one or two years should have interest from big clubs. He’s an exciting talent to watch.”
Isen, the agent, describes Kamara as a left-footed attacking threat with superior pace and a knack for making the unselfish, extra pass. Those traits led to Kamara’s nickname.
“Many people have called him the Sierra Leone Messi,” Isen said. “He wants to be playing at the highest level. When I was looking for a club for JT, I thought there was a world of opportunity between Hack’s experience and what Louisville City FC has to offer. I couldn’t think of a better place for him to get started with his professional career. I had a lot of teams interested in him — MLS teams were interested — and I recommended straight away that he sign with Louisville.”
“I’m so happy to be part of the Louisville City FC family,” Kamara added. “I can’t wait to play in this beautiful facility — Lynn Family Stadium — and start the season.”
Kamara is the fourth newcomer on a LouCity roster that also features 18 returners from a 2020 squad that posted the USL Championship’s best Eastern Conference record. Clubs will begin the 2021 season between April 24 and May 15 with more scheduled details to be determined.
CURRENT 2021 LOUISVILLE CITY FC ROSTER
Goalkeeper – Chris Hubbard, Simon Lefebvre
Defender – Wes Charpie, Jonathan Gomez, Oscar Jimenez, Pat McMahon, Alexis Souahy, Sean Totsch, Akil Watts
Midfielder – Corben Bone, George Davis IV, Tyler Gibson, Paolo DelPiccolo, Jay Tee Kamara, Napo Matsoso, Niall McCabe, Elijah Wynder
Forward – Antoine Hoppenot, Cameron Lancaster, Jimmy McLaughlin, Brian Ownby, Abdou Thiam
