Ameer Kinani
Personal information
Full name Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani
Date of birth (2001-04-20) 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

Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani (Arabic: أمير علاء كاظم الكناني; born April 20, 2001) is an Iraqi footballer.

Early life

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

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

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

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

Kinani is the son of former Iraq national team player Alaa Kadhim.[16]

Career statistics

As of October 6, 2023[25]
Club Season League Playoffs Domestic Cup Other Total
Division AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Cartagena FC 2020–21[26] Tercera División 102––1[lower-alpha 1]0112
Atlético Benidorm 2021–22[26] Preferente Valenciana 20–––20
ProStars FC 2022[17] League1 Ontario 201710––2117
Vancouver FC 2023 Canadian Premier League 181–10–191
Career total 50201010105320

References

  1. ↑ Nava, David (August 29, 2023). "Ameer Kinani reflects on his first year as a pro". Vancouver FC.
  2. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (December 19, 2022). "'This was always my dream': Ameer Kinani's incredible journey to being drafted by Vancouver FC". Canadian Premier League.
  3. 1 2 Ameer Kinani at the Canadian Soccer Association
  4. 1 2 "Pair of Huskies dign pro deals in Europe". George Brown College. November 20, 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ameer Kinani George Brown profile". George Brown College.
  6. ↑ "Soccer teams celebrate seniors deat with sweep of Centennial". George Brown College. October 14, 2019.
  7. ↑ "Athletes of the week". George Brown College. October 15, 2019.
  8. ↑ Langford, Andrea (September 7, 2022). "Striker Ameer Kinani bolsters Bold offence". TMU Bold.
  9. ↑ "Ameer Kinani TMU profile". TMU Bold.
  10. ↑ Johnson, Matt (October 1, 2022). "Abdi, Fafinski combine for eight goals, Bold blow past Paladins". TMU Bold.
  11. ↑ Flores-Chan, Christina (October 16, 2022). "Bold clinch playoff berth with 6-1 win over Voyageurs". TMU Bold.
  12. ↑ Fox, Mitchell (October 31, 2022). "Kinani strikes late as Bold conquer Ravens, advance to semi-finals". The Eyeopener.
  13. ↑ Langford, Andrea (December 15, 2022). "Bold forward Ameer Kinani drafted by CPL's Vancouver FC". TMU Bold.
  14. ↑ Gorsky, Keiran (February 14, 2023). "From U Sports nationals to Vancouver Football Club". The Eyeopener.
  15. ↑ "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.
  16. 1 2 3 Kinani, Ameer. "The Journey - Just Like Dad". Touchline Insider.
  17. 1 2 "Ameer Kinani 2022 L1O Stats". League1 Ontario.
  18. ↑ "Ilyass, Green, and Ferrin lead the line in the 2022 Men's Premier Division All-Star team". League1 Ontario. November 17, 2022.
  19. ↑ Tierney, Mitchell (December 15, 2022). "Vancouver FC select White, Kinani as club's first-ever CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League.
  20. ↑ Jacques, John (March 22, 2023). "Vancouver FC Signs Both Draft Picks Ahead Of First Season". Northern Tribune.
  21. 1 2 "Vancouver FC sign top two 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks". Canadian Premier League. March 22, 2023.
  22. 1 2 3 "#18 Kinani will remain with VFC until end of season". Vancouver FC. August 28, 2023.
  23. ↑ "'Historic' first home win for Vancouver FC". Langley Adavance Times. June 21, 2023.
  24. ↑ Jacques, John (August 29, 2023). "Striker Ameer Kinani Extends Stay With Vancouver". Northern Tribune.
  25. ↑ Ameer Kinani at Soccerway
  26. 1 2 "Ameer Kinani La Preferente profile". La Preferente.
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