ISHMAIL Kamara says he is appreciating his football all the more due to the suffering back home in his native Africa.

The Canvey Island striker is from Sierra Leone and while he has been impressing fans at the Prospects Stadium on the pitch, the people of his country have been battling the Ebola virus, which has claimed 1,500 lives since its outbreak last year.

The 27-year-old signed for the Gulls on a dual registration deal from Bishop’s Stortford in September and has played for clubs in Ivory Coast, the USA and Sweden, as well as appearing five times for his country.

And he says he has been concentrating on his football amidst the trouble back home.

“All my family is back in Sierra Leone,” said Kamara, who is from the capital Freetown. “They have found it very difficult and the effects are truly terrible.

“It hurts me a lot as I know the damage it is causing back home. The epidemic comes after the Sierra Leone Civil War so our country has suffered a lot in recent years.

“All that makes the people happy has stopped and that is sad. There is no football, businesses are shutting earlier and public places are closing down.

“I have been concentrating on playing but it is very hard for me and the people of Sierra Leone.”

Kamara has been in impressive form in recent weeks, scoring three times in Canvey’s last three matches, although he is yet to register at home or in the league.

And the striker is pleased with his displays of late.

“I am happy with my form at the moment,” added Kamara. “I am enjoying playing with a great bunch of lads and they have helped me a lot. I feel like I am in a family.

“It is nice scoring goals and knowing they are important for the club. This is a great team to be a part of.”

11-goal John Sands has been struggling with a double hernia injury in recent weeks and Kamara says he has enjoyed stepping up in his absence – hoping to continue his goal scoring run at Wingate & Finchley tomorrow.

“I like scoring for the team, especially with Sands injured,” he said. “He is a fantastic player and has been very important for us. We hope he can come back into the side and score goals but it has been nice to take the burden in recent weeks.

“I want to score as many as I can this season and, with the backing of my teammates, I can do well.”