Ola Kamara believes MLS numbers deserve call-up to Norway

Ola Kamara

Ola Kamara has the numbers in MLS, with 34 league goals in his two seasons with Columbus Crew SC. Those numbers, he said, should be good enough to get him called back into the Norwegian national team for the first time since 2014 -- but it's not his call to make.


"Now I have had two strong seasons that are better than most Norwegian players, except (Bournemouth's) Joshua King," Kamara, speaking in his native language, said to Norwegian outlet VG. "I have shown good scores over two seasons, with 34 goals. I should have been on the national team, but I also know that coaches choose players who fit into their playing style."


That might be why coach Lars Lagerback has not called him in, Kamara said.


"My achievements are good enough. The league is good enough," he said. "But I saw the international match against Northern Ireland. It is clearly not the ball possession we play in Columbus Crew. I do not know if Lagerback thinks I do not fit in there."


Norway next play Macedonia on Nov. 11 and Slovakia on Nov. 14.


Per Joar Hansen, an asstant coach on the national team, told VG that Kamara is being considered for a call-up says that the national team is following Kamara, and he is one of eight to nine points to be considered.


"If he is good enough, he will be taken out," Hansen said. "It is strong what he does in the United States. He puts himself in a league with many good players. So the teams lacked some organization, but it should not take away the performance of Ola. He has proven that he is a good player and in good shape. He appears in the field and smells the goal."