Leone's Alhaji Kamara not worried by heart condition or Cheick Tiote death

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Thursday Jun 08, 2017. 18:30

Speaking after the passing of Cote d'Ivoire midfielder Cheick Tiote this week, Sierra Leone striker Alhaji Kamara says he will continue to play football despite his heart condition.

Reports indicate that the Leone Star's revelation follows his elder brother's death, Bai Sama Kamara, who passed away in May after collapsing during a non-league football game in Freetown.

The BBC has it that Kamara, who was diagnosed with a heart condition in 2015, insists he is not having sleepless nights over his condition.

Based in the United States, Kamara's heart problem was discovered by UEFA during a compulsory medical check-up whilst he was playing for Swedish club Norrkoping.

CHEICK TIOTE DIES AFTER TRAINING COLLAPSE

However, it is reported that American heart specialists gave him the all-clear to continue with his football career and he later joined MLS club DC United.

"Tiote's death is sad but it won't stop me from continuing playing because my heart condition is not life-threatening,” he tells the BBC.

"I'm not having any second thoughts about quitting because I know that I'm okay to play.

"Death always occurs, so one can't stop playing football when he hears of the death of another footballer.

"My brother died on his way to hospital after collapsing during a football match but the cause of the death was never determined as there was no post-mortem."

Kamara, currently on loan to US second tier league side Richmond Kickers, was called-up by new national team coach John Keister for their upcoming 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Kenya on Saturday.

However, it is reported that he has not travelled to Freetown because of a demand by his parent club that there must be a defibrillator at the venue during the encounter.