When Ameer Kinani heard his name called as the second overall pick in the 2023 CPL-U SPORTS draft, it began what he hopes will be the latest chapter in an already pretty incredible footballing journey.
The 21-year-old striker was selected by expansion side Vancouver FC out of Toronto Metropolitan University, a special moment, he says, for him and his family.
"It was an amazing feeling, this was always my dream, and it was an amazing feeling to see my mom and my siblings and my dad, my whole family proud of me," Kinani told CanPL.ca.
Kinani comes from a footballing family, as his father played for the Iraq men's national team from 1990 until 2000, including during 1994 World Cup qualifying.
But when he moved to Canada from Iraq at the age of seven with his mom and his siblings, his dad could not join them for another 10 years.
"It was a difficult time, but I stayed focused, to help my family and to continue my dream," said Kinani.
Growing up in Toronto, Kinani played for local youth clubs like F.C. Emery and Vaughan S.C. Then, in 2008, a video of his highlights he posted on social media caught the attention of the Iraqi Football Association.
Kinani would go on to represent his country of birth at the 2019 U19 Asian Cup. That exposure lead to an opportunity to join Cartagena FC in Spain, where he played for a year and a half.
"That experience was also very good, I learned a lot on the field, off the field, because I was alone without family and I was there for a year, and I learned a lot of stuff and I think it helped me to get to where I am today," said Kinani.
Unfortunately, as is often a difficulty for Canadian players who want to play abroad, Kinani's Spanish VISA expired and he returned to Canada.
He played a year for George Brown College*, then joined ProStars FC of League1 Ontario. With ProStars, he scored 17 goals during a fantastic 2022 campaign that drew interest and ultimately a move to TMU.
*The General Arts and Science graduate, played in eight games where he scored seven goals (including four goals in one game versus the Centennial Colts on Oct. 12, 2019) collecting 14 points during his 2019-20 season with the Huskies. He finished the outdoor season ranked seventh in the OCAA in scoring. With the 2020-21 OCAA season cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kinani completed his diploma online while playing professionally for Cartagena FC in Spain.
Source: Canadian Premier League/George Brown Huskies