Kamara came off the bench to good effect in Australia’s opening group stage win over Cote D’Ivoire, although the exciting attacker was an unused substitute in the Joey’s subsequent defeat to Brazil.
Now 15, Kamara’s biological father was killed shortly before his son’s birth.
The fledgling footballer then left a stepfather behind in war-torn Liberia to flee with his mother and two siblings, arriving in Australia at age six via refugee camps in Sierra Leone and Guinea.
Kamara credits his stepfather – now Liberia’s goalkeeping coach – with introducing him to the sport at a young age, although judging by his pace and fleet of foot, it’s a good thing no one thought to stick him in goal.
The youngster is one of a growing number of refugees starting to make a name for themselves through football in Australia, and hopefully Kamara’s example will inspire many more to test themselves in the round-ball game.
Kamara follows in the footsteps of Congo-born striker Million Butshiire in achieving selection in the Australian under-17 side, although Butshiire’s tale is perhaps a warning of the difficulties of making the step up to professional football, having recently left Perth Glory’s National Youth League set-up to join State League side Cockburn City.
Nevertheless, playing football at any level is surely an achievement for those who have fled warfare and bloodshed in their former homelands, although no doubt Butshiire is also keen to try and replicate the success of current Chengdu Blades midfielder Jonas Salley in forging a serviceable career out of the game.
Of course, football has long been Australia’s most inclusive participation sport, not discriminating against height or weight or gender, turning a blind eye to class and social strata in favour of welcoming with open arms anyone eager and willing to play the game.
It’s an advantage Football Federation Australia have over counterparts from other sports, with football likewise a native game to many youngsters arriving from far-flung corners of the globe.
The Socceroos have had countless players from a staggering array of backgrounds pull on the famous green-and-gold jersey, one of my favourites of whom was legendary Adelaide City sweeper Milan Ivanovic.
No doubt Kamara hopes to have a similar impact to one of Adelaide’s favourite adopted sons, although rumours suggest the youngster will join Brisbane Roar’s youth team once his time with the Australian Institute of Sport comes to an end.
Whatever happens to the Joeys in Mexico, Teeboy Kamara will surely emerge as one of the success stories of the tournament.
And his story is one which should inspire not only refugees arriving in Australia, but also those who doubt the process of accepting others into a country largely untouched by the horrors and bloodshed of twentieth century warfare.
james
Guest
I heard tboy is sick but then I saw him, walking in Melbourne at a shops with girl's, and I also so him hugging a girl pretty tight. Tboy wants to play for Melbourne
james
Guest
I heard tboy is sick but then I saw him, walking in Melbourne at a shops with girl's, and I also so him hugging a girl pretty tight.
whiskeymac
Guest
yeah they really are producing some very good players (at least potential to be very good). great for the rivalries, might be hard on the silverware cabinet at College Street mind you.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
They went for Usami last window however Gamba held out. I watched him in the Cerezo-Gamba derby and the kid really has some class about him. He seems to find space in some very tight corners and always seems to get the assist. Good luck to him as he joins what feels to be a stampede of young Japanese players in Europe.
whiskeymac
Guest
Off topic (but loosley aligned with talk of Bayern) This is good for asian footy - harder for us if they (Japan) keep producing such promising players! - http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/feedarticle/9714909
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Looks like Teeboy has another chance, this time against the Uzbeks who accounted for USA & Czech Republic after their clobbering by the Kiwis. Should be interesting.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Ironically their best ever performance was in the 1981 FIFA World Youth Tournament when they came runners up to Germany; the entire team was born in Qatar.
Realfootball
Guest
Yep, and they were awful again. The worst team in the group by a long way. Terrific goal, though. I think serious questions need to be asked of the AIS and our youth coach in regard to this team.
Bondy
Guest
Fake X. More importantly did you read the story , or are you just trolling for an argument ?
Kasey
Guest
Joeys do enough to get out of the group: Joeys through to knockout stage Acrobatic ... Joeys goalscorer Remington celebrates his goal in style (Getty) Ten-man Australia progressed to the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 World Cup after a late goal salvaged a 1-1 draw with Denmark in its final group game in Queretaro. source: http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/match/report/188915/Australia-U17-vs-Denmark-U17
Fake ex-AFL fan
Guest
Put down that bone Fossball, there's a good boy.
Tortion
Guest
Name one sport in Australia that consistently parades around people from ethnic minorities playing as national age group representatives. Go ahead. Give it a crack.
Chris K
Guest
awesome, looking forward to it
Titus
Guest
Live on SBS, Tuesday 28th 12.45am. So I'm guessing the game is on in about 3 hours.
Chris K
Guest
Anyone know whats going with the Joeys? I saw that the game got suspended this morning
Realfootball
Guest
This is slightly off topic, but I have to say that this is a really awful Joey's side. Their inability to pass the ball is jaw-dropping. Is this really the best crop of 17 year olds we have? It seems scarcely credible. Tombides and Teeboy apart, they are simply awful. Really, really awful.
Realfootball
Guest
I hope so too, but given the fact that he can reside in Germany for 5 years and take out German citizenship, I can't see what rationale there is is for FIFA setting such a far reaching precedent. He was poorly advised if he does want to play for Australia. The FIFA rules are well known.
Kasey
Guest
Ben, how else does anyone expect Qatar to field a vaguely competitive team in the WC in 2022? They are yet to qualify for any previous tournament finals, and I cant see them doing it in 2014. Maybe their new-Qatari's will arrive in time for 2018, but I expect a lot of Qatari's called Diego, Luis or similar to appear around about the 2019AFC nations cup;) Maybe that way Uruguay''can win their third Copa Mondial;)
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
The grief there, das, was when the Qatari's were removing citizenship once a footballer's playing career was over. I believe that practice has finished.
Nathan
Guest
Bloody good on Germany for that kind of a turnout, thrilled for the result for women's sport there. Always wondered if social outcomes would be better if the people that manage government departments for human rights and empowering women shunted some of the grant money to help try and fully professionalise ANZ Champs and the W-League and fight a lot of the idea out there that women's sport is inherently a lower standard and less interesting. (And I know those impressions are out there; I saw the comments on the Guardian UK on the Women's World Cup and swore that I must have someone followed a link to The Sun!)