‘I liked everything I heard, it was a no-brainer for me’
Abu Kamara admitted he never thought his time at Pompey would prove such a huge success.
And after saying goodbye to the club with a League
One winner’s medal to show for his fabulous work over the course of the season, the Norwich ace said he was grateful for the opportunity John Mousinho and sporting director Rich Hughes provided him.
The 20-year-old Carrow Road youth product featured in every game for champions Pompey and finished the season as the Blues’ most creative force with 10 assists, as well as eight goals.
The Fratton faithful united to sing ‘sign him up’ on the day Pompey were handed the championship trophy at PO4 and on Southsea Common when the council held a reception for the league winners.
Such popularity was something he never anticipated last summer.
After racking up 50 games in total for Pompey, the winger told Norwich’s media team following his Carrow Road return: ‘I had a zoom call with the manager and sporting director (before I signed) and they said that the overall goal was promotion.
‘I just liked everything I heard, so it was a no-brainer for me really. When I got there, I didn’t think I would play as much as I did, so to be involved in every game of the season is a massive achievement for myself and
I’m happy to have done that.
‘(My development) has benefited a lot. Having 50 games under my belt at such a young age is going to make me more physically robust and it’s going to make me a better player at the end of the day, so I’m grateful that the manager allowed me to perform.
‘Knowing that I was able to make a lot of people happy … it’s been seven years in League One but now they’re in the Championship and I’m just happy that I was part of that squad.’
Kamara’s Pompey form saw him linked with Brentford, Leicester, Stoke and German Bundesliga side Freiburg during the January transfer window as his reputation continued to soar.
He’s now back with
To hear the fans saying “sign him up”, stuff like that, it’s obviously going to fill me up with a lot of confidence
the Canaries, who remain hopeful of a return to the Premier League - albeit via the Championship play-offs. But what does next season have in store?
He added: ‘I haven’t had time to process what I’ve done and accomplished throughout the season so to hear the fans saying “sign him up”, stuff like that, it’s obviously going to fill me up with a lot of confidence, so I really appreciate the Portsmouth fans for that.’
Last week, Mousinho admitted the chances of a Fratton Park return for Kamara remained firmly in the balance. But the Blues are hoping their strengthened relationship with Norwich can hold them in good stead.
Canaries boss David
Wagner admits a decision on where Abu Kamara plays next season ‘is very far away.’
The German revealed: ‘Abu, I spoke to last
Thursday. Obviously, he’ll now get some days off in Vegas (with other members of Pompey’s title-winning squad) - but, to be fair, he’s too young to enjoy it!
‘We had a chat and I obviously said how impressive it was what he has done and he should take his off-season and come back proper, make a statement in pre-season then as well in the best possible shape.
‘We’re looking forward (to having him back) but this, to be totally honest, is very, very far away.’
Where Norwich find themselves playing next season depends on their forthcoming Championship play-off campaign.
Saturday’s defeat at Birmingham saw them finish sixth, meaning they will face Leeds in the two-leg semifinal. The other semi will see Southampton and West Brom go head-to-head.
Promotion back to the Premier League could increase Pompey’s chances of signing Kamara on loan again.
To be involved in every game of the season is a massive achievement