When Bolton Wanderers travel to Middlesbrough on Saturday the game will be particularly special for Medo Kamara as he comes up against his international team mate and good friend Kei Kamara.
Bolton travel to the Riverside aiming to make it four wins in a row but Medo is looking for bragging rights as well over his fellow countrymen.
The Sierra Leone international believes there will be a big audience watching back home to see which player comes out on top.
“There will be more interest in the game in Sierra Leone for sure. People will be watching the game back there,” the midfielder told the Bolton website.
“Most of the young lads back in Sierra Leone are watching the Premier League and La Liga, but with us two playing against each other people will watch.
“It brings a lot of the lads together and when they see two players from the country playing against each other it gives them belief that they can make it if they get a break.”
Medo also admitted it will be an interesting afternoon as he comes up against his good friend Kei but he is relishing the prospect.
“I’m in regular contact with Kei. We speak every day and exchange text messages before and after games. I’m sure there will be a few more sent in the run up to the weekend.
“He’s one of my good friends in the national team and I’m looking forward to playing against him.”
When the sides met last season Boro came out on top defeating the Trotters 2-1 but manager Dougie Freedman is confident his side is much better equipped to deal with the challenge from Aitor Karanka’s side.
“Last year was difficult, but now I feel that we are better equipped to cope with it – we’re in good form and we’re ready for the pressure that is going to be put upon us and the challenges in front of us,”
Freedman told his weekly press conference.
Bolton look set to give a debut to Joe Mason after the Republic of Ireland under 21 international signed on loan from Cardiff this week as Freedman attempts to boost his attacking options.
However the game marks new Boro boss Karanka’s first home game in charge which is sure to fire up the home fans.
The former Real Madrid defender has already made a crucial signing bringing in experience goalkeeper Shay Given who is set to make his debut on Saturday which will make Bolton’s task a lot tougher.
Image courtesy of The Men in White podcast via YouTube, with thanks.
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