Sporting KC’s Kei Kamara opens up in Grantland piece

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• Kamara (right) and Jimmy Nielsen have found a home with Sporting.

The crowd at Livestrong Sporting Park is used to following striker Kei Kamara’s head — he has a knack for putting it on the ball. But getting inside his head is another matter entirely.

ESPN’s Grantland has posted the first of a two-part interview with Kamara (the second half will be posted later today), and it’s a solid piece that explains the effect that Kansas City has had on him and vice versa. Sporting head coach Peter Vermes is sprinkled liberally throughout the story, explaining his vision for Kamara’s current role and belief that he could be the offensive firebrand that sparked the team.

“When you see the story of his life, you see everything the guy has been through … he had to find a place and people that he could trust and I think that he has that today,” Vermes tells Grantland.

Sporting KC plays the Chicago Fire at Livestrong tonight at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are still available.