Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani (Arabic: أمير علاء كاظم الكناني; born April 20, 2001) is an Iraqi footballer.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani | ||
| Date of birth | April 20, 2001 | ||
| Place of birth | Baghdad, Iraq | ||
| Height | 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Vancouver FC | ||
| Number | 18 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| FC Emery | |||
| York Jets SC | |||
| Vaughan Azzurri | |||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2019 | George Brown Huskies | 8 | (7) |
| 2022 | TMU Bold | 13 | (7) |
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2021 | Cartagena FC | 10 | (2) |
| 2021 | Atlético Benidorm | 2 | (0) |
| 2022 | ProStars FC | 20 | (17) |
| 2023 | Vancouver FC | 18 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2018 | Iraq U19 | 1+ | (0) |
|
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 6, 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of February 25, 2023 | |||
Early life edit
Born in Iraq, Kinani moved to Canada at age seven,[1] where he began playing youth soccer with FC Emery (formerly known as Tecnico Ambato FC).[2][3] He later played youth soccer with York Jets SC and Vaughan Azzurri.[4]
College career edit
In 2019, he began attending George Brown College, where he played for the men's soccer team.[5] On October 14, 2019, he scored four goals in the final twenty minutes of a 6-1 victory over the Cenntenial Colts,[6] a performance which earned him George Brown's Athlete of the Week honours.[7]
In September 2022, he began attending Toronto Metropolitan University, where he played for the men's soccer team.[8] On October 1, he scored a brace against the Royal Military College Paladins for his first goals.[9][10] On October 16, he scored a hat trick against the Laurentian Voyageurs.[11] On October 29, he scored the winning goal in the 90th minute on a penalty kick to give TMU a 2-1 victory over the Carleton Ravens in the OUA semi-finals.[12] In his first season with TMU, he helped them win an OUA silver medal, and a fifth place finish at the U SPORTS national championship.[13][14]
Club career edit
In 2020, he joined Spanish club Cartagena FC in the Tercera División.[4]
In September 2021, he joined Atlético Benidorm in the Preferente Valenciana.[15] However, soon afterwards, he returned to Canada, due to the expiry of his Spanish visa.[16]
In 2022, he played with ProStars FC in League1 Ontario.[17] He was named an honourable mention on the year-end all-stars team list.[18]
In December 2022, he was selected second overall in the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft by Vancouver FC.[19] After attending pre-season with the club, he signed a U Sports developmental contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.[20][21] He made his professional debut on April 15, in a substitute appearance against Pacific FC.[22] He scored his first goal on June 20, in a 2-0 victory over Forge FC, also recording an assist in the match on the first goal of the match.[23][22] Upon the expiry of his U Sports deal in August, he extended his contract for the remainder of the 2023 season.[22][24]
International career edit
In 2018, a highlight reel that he posted online attracted the attention of the Iraq Football Association and he was called up to the Iraq U19 a trial, where he participated in multiple friendlies.[16] He was then called up for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship.[21]
In December 2022, he attended a camp with the Canada national futsal team, making his debut in the Canadian program.[3]
Personal edit
Kinani is the son of former Iraq national team player Alaa Kadhim.[16]
Career statistics edit
- As of October 6, 2023[25]
| Club | Season | League | Playoffs | Domestic Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Cartagena FC | 2020–21[26] | Tercera División | 10 | 2 | – | – | 1[a] | 0 | 11 | 2 | ||
| Atlético Benidorm | 2021–22[26] | Preferente Valenciana | 2 | 0 | – | – | – | 2 | 0 | |||
| ProStars FC | 2022[17] | League1 Ontario | 20 | 17 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 21 | 17 | ||
| Vancouver FC | 2023 | Canadian Premier League | 18 | 1 | – | 1 | 0 | – | 19 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 50 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 53 | 20 | ||
- ^ Appearance in the 2021 Tercera División promotion play-offs
References edit
- ^ Nava, David (August 29, 2023). "Ameer Kinani reflects on his first year as a pro". Vancouver FC.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (December 19, 2022). "'This was always my dream': Ameer Kinani's incredible journey to being drafted by Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ a b Ameer Kinani at the Canadian Soccer Association
- ^ a b "Pair of Huskies dign pro deals in Europe". George Brown College. November 20, 2020.
- ^ "Ameer Kinani George Brown profile". George Brown College.
- ^ "Soccer teams celebrate seniors deat with sweep of Centennial". George Brown College. October 14, 2019.
- ^ "Athletes of the week". George Brown College. October 15, 2019.
- ^ Langford, Andrea (September 7, 2022). "Striker Ameer Kinani bolsters Bold offence". TMU Bold.
- ^ "Ameer Kinani TMU profile". TMU Bold.
- ^ Johnson, Matt (October 1, 2022). "Abdi, Fafinski combine for eight goals, Bold blow past Paladins". TMU Bold.
- ^ Flores-Chan, Christina (October 16, 2022). "Bold clinch playoff berth with 6-1 win over Voyageurs". TMU Bold.
- ^ Fox, Mitchell (October 31, 2022). "Kinani strikes late as Bold conquer Ravens, advance to semi-finals". The Eyeopener.
- ^ Langford, Andrea (December 15, 2022). "Bold forward Ameer Kinani drafted by CPL's Vancouver FC". TMU Bold.
- ^ Gorsky, Keiran (February 14, 2023). "From U Sports nationals to Vancouver Football Club". The Eyeopener.
- ^ "El CF Gandía buscará su primera victoria como local ante el Atlético Benidorm" [CF Gandia will seek its first win at home against Atlético Benidorm]. CF Gandía (in Spanish). 24 September 2021.
- ^ a b c Kinani, Ameer. "The Journey - Just Like Dad". Touchline Insider.
- ^ a b "Ameer Kinani 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
- ^ "Ilyass, Green, and Ferrin lead the line in the 2022 Men's Premier Division All-Star team". League1 Ontario. November 17, 2022.
- ^ Tierney, Mitchell (December 15, 2022). "Vancouver FC select White, Kinani as club's first-ever CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League.
- ^ Jacques, John (March 22, 2023). "Vancouver FC Signs Both Draft Picks Ahead Of First Season". Northern Tribune.
- ^ a b "Vancouver FC sign top two 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League. March 22, 2023.
- ^ a b c "#18 Kinani will remain with VFC until end of season". Vancouver FC. August 28, 2023.
- ^ "'Historic' first home win for Vancouver FC". Langley Adavance Times. June 21, 2023.
- ^ Jacques, John (August 29, 2023). "Striker Ameer Kinani Extends Stay With Vancouver". Northern Tribune.
- ^ Ameer Kinani at Soccerway
- ^ a b "Ameer Kinani La Preferente profile". La Preferente.
External links edit
- Ameer Kinani at La Preferente (in Spanish)
- Ameer Kinani at Soccerway