VALLE (Dagsavisen): This is confirmed by VIF coach Petter Myhre to Dagsavisen.
– Ola is at an age where he counts a little on the buttons. We had a few talks with him, and we want to take a further step next year in the Eliteserien. There will be even more training and focus around what we have to do. Going with four strikers in the field then – it would have been difficult. Then it was natural that it was Ola, who has had the least playing time this autumn, says Myhre after Tuesday’s training.
Muamer Brajanac and Mees Rijks have gained the most confidence at the top for VIF in the Obosligaen in 2024. In addition, the 17-year-old talent Lorents Apold-Aasen is back from injury. Kamara was not on the practice field Tuesday, but has previously stated to Dagsavisen that he could consider joining VIF up in the Eliteserien.
– Ola is the most meritorious player we have in the team. In a way, he has been the star all along and has seen others get the opportunity. Not everyone can handle it, but he has handled it exceptionally well, praises Myhre.
Kamara came to VIF ahead of this year’s season on a one-year contract. The former national team player has a past in LA Galaxy, DC United and Chinese football, among others. He has won the Eliteserien and the cup with Strømsgodset and the Swedish cup with Häcken.
Kamara scored three goals in a total of 25 games for VIF.
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Nor will centre-back Nathan Fasika Idumba be seen at Valle in 2025. The loan agreement with Cape Town City expires at New Year.
– Ola and Nathan have been very important to us. Although people from the outside always measure the players by what they perform on the pitch, we pay attention to what they do in training, in the dressing room, as mentors and as teammates. They have been exemplary, says Myhre.
– Both get a six on how they have behaved, even though there has been significantly less playing time than they had hoped for.
The stopper got a total of ten games in Vålerenga.
– He has not played, so there is no drama in it. He has been a superb contributor in every possible way, but when he has not played it is natural that it will be like that, says sports manager Joacim Jonsson to Dagsavisen.
When Fasika disappears, VIF has three centre-backs left in the A-stable in Sebastian Jarl, Aaron Kiil Olsen and Aleksander Hammer Kjelsen.
– After an overall assessment, we believe that the other three stoppers we have are a step ahead. His agreement expires now, and then we choose not to extend it, says Myhre.
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– Nathan has made a fabulous impression as a guy and has been very professional. He was in the team’s first series match. If he hadn’t gotten that injury then, things could have looked different. But Aaron came back from injury and kind of cemented that spot. Then the road back was longer than it was for Nathan. That’s how this game is, adds the VIF coach.
The Vålerenga train this week before they take a holiday in December. The run-up to the 2025 season starts on 2 January.
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