SOCCER IN BONGO

As a teen, he fled war-torn Sierra Leone in search of a better life. Now, after a breakout MLS season, Kamara has finally found it – in Ohio S now blankets the yard outside Kei Kamara's suburban Ohio home, the one with the white Range Rover in the driveway (license plate: "KK 23"). On this frigid February afternoon, the Columbus Crew SC striker is inside enjoying a rare moment of repose, dressed casually in athletic gear and a man bun that adds at least an inch to his 6-foot-3 frame. His wife, Kristin Bock Kamara, is in the basement helping their baby daughter learn to walk. Eight-month-old Kierin's first steps yesterday coincided with a torn ACL for their spaniel/shepherd mix Chelsea – yes, she's named after Kamara's favorite soccer club – but that's not stopping the dog from exuberantly hobbling around the living room, mimicking her master's endless energy supply. (Chelsea also has her own Twitter account; bio: "Am A Crazy ...

The latest Alabama trip to the White House East Room ran a few minutes behind schedule. When it began Wednesday afternoon, President Barack Obama had a few one-liners prepared. Being the fourth such trip made in his presidency, Obama made that a theme. "I guess for a lot of folks," he said, "it's welcome back." The traditional welcomes included Alabama governor Robert Bentley and other dignitaries packed into the room. Obama praised the Crimson Tide's work ethic and mentioned a previous meeting with Derrick Henry at the National Prayer Breakfast. Obama was touched by the Heisman Trophy winner saying his prayer for all the people who could not eat breakfast that day.

As the US searched for a new league after the 1994 World Cup, a rival to MLS emerged – complete with four goalmouths and striped pitches T wo weeks ago Jim Paglia, a 63-year-old businessman, was moving home. The boxes in his new house no doubt contained possessions of personal interest. But hidden amongst the stacks was also a collection of documents that would intrigue the soccer public too. The boxes contained perhaps the last remnants of a failed bid against MLS’s claim to America’s first-division status: proposals for a single-entity league that looked to radically Americanize soccer and attract fans to a sport that had been in hiatus professionally for nearly a decade. This, the plans show, would have also meant

The North American Soccer League has signed a new partnership with Under Armour Inc. that will see the whole league using the company’s custom-designed soccer ball. The Under Armour-branded ball will be used during games, training sessions and community activities, and will also be for sale through NASL retail channels. The deal represents Baltimore-based Under Armour’s (NYSE: UA) first involving an official soccer match ball for a league, and builds upon a soccer portfolio that includes both players and clubs across the world.

U.S. head coach Jill Ellis ' 22-player roster for the SheBelieves Cup that begins Thursday includes 2015 Women's World Cup champions Whitney Engen and Heather O'Reilly , who had been left off the U.S. roster for Olympic qualifying. Lauren Barnes of the Seattle Reign earned her first senior national team call-up. Stephanie McCaffrey is the lone player on the Olympic qualifying roster not brought in for the tournament.

U.S. Soccer elected Carlos Cordeiro as its vice president, unseating Mike Edwards , at the its Annual General Meeting Saturday in San Antonio. Cordeiro, who will serve a four-year term as vice president, joined the federation as its first independent director and has been treasurer since 2008. He is a confidante of U.S. president Sunil Gulati , traveling frequently on international matters. Cordeiro beat out Edwards, the vice president since 2006, and Kevin Payne , the former MLS executive who is now the chief executive officer of U.S. Soccer.

With the notable exception of its two goalkeepers, with on the bench, key U.S. national team players are enjoying some of their best form in recent years in Europe.The USA's two March World Cup 2018 qualifiers against Guatemala are still more than three weeks away, but as many as a dozen players look to be in line to be called for the two games. They include Bobby Wood , who scored his 10th goal of the season for Union Berlin, and Fabian Johnson , whose sixth goal of the season matches his total over the last five seasons. Wood is closing in on the American record for goals in a season in German's second division. His 10 goals are two shy of Eric Wynalda 's record set with Saarbruecken in 1993-94. David Wagner scored 11 goals with Darmstadt in 1992-93.

Following in the national team footsteps of his uncle, 18-year-old forward Joshua Perez is making his presence felt with Fiorentina, where he signed a four-year deal last month. Joshua Perez, nephew of Hugo Perez, is one of America’s top teen prospects, recently signing a four-year deal with Fiorentina. “It's definitely a big difference compared with the other clubs I tried out for,” Perez told ASN. “Italian soccer itself is tough. It definitely just makes you think quicker and play in uncomfortable situations.”

  Gianni Infantino has been elected as FIFA president after a second round of voting in Zurich. UEFA general secretary Infantino won the election with 115 votes, with Sheikh Salman receiving 88 votes. Prince Ali received four votes and no votes were recorded for Jerome Champagne. In his victory speech, Infantino said: "I told you I went through a journey, an exceptional journey and a journey which made me meet many fantastic people - many people who love football and believe in football, and many people who deserve FIFA to be respected. "We will restore the respect people have in FIFA and everybody will

ASN's Brian Sciaretta spoke with the talented teen—and his famous uncle, Hugo—about his decision to play in Italy and how his game should grow in a soccer culture that produces so many great defenders. FOR MANY AMERICAN PLAYERS , soccer runs in the family. Alejandro Bedoya's father and grandfather both played professionally in Colombia. United States U-20 forward Tommy Thompson’s father saw time with the United States national team. And the Bradleys, Michael and Bob, both remain active and relevant in the sport. It's time to add another name to the list: Perez. Joshua Perez, 18, is one of America's top teenage prospects and his uncle, Hugo Perez, was one of the most dominating American players of his generation. The professional soccer tradition extends back two generations, as Hugo's father and grandfather also played professionally in El Salvador. Joshua is now following suit after inking a four-year deal with ACF Fiorentina earl...

The FIFA presidential election has not yet taken place, and the contest is already in the courts, or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the high court for sports disputes. At issue: the construction of the voting booths. Prince Ali , considered a long shot in the five-man race to succeed Sepp Blatter , wants transparent voting booths, not to see who vote for whom but to ensure that voters don't take photos of their completed ballots. Many federations are under pressure to offer proof that they voted for whom they were told to vote for under threat -- it is charged -- of being penalized if they go against their confederation line. (Conversely, it has been suggested that

The Seattle Sounders confirmed the transfer of Nigerian forward Obafemi Martins to Shanghai Greenland Shenhua FC of the Chinese Super League. Martins scored 40 goals in 72 MLS appearances for the Sounders and was the MLS MVP runner-up in 2014. "Ultimately, this transaction gives us roster and salary cap flexibility heading into our 2016 MLS season, including the opening of a Designated Player position," said Sounders FC general manager and president of Soccer Garth Lagerwey in a statement. "We have a talented and capable group in our locker room, and we're excited for the year ahead." NOTE: MLS free agents= players eligible to move as free agents between MLS clubs with

After a second straight year missing the playoffs, the Rapids revamped their roster. But will it be enough to break the postseason drought? Credit the  the organization did not live in denial this offseason. The team finished last in the Western Conference with just 37 points. Missing the playoffs for the second straight year and third year out of four was enough to spark plenty of change on the roster. Seven players who were in coach Pablo Mastroeni’s first starting XI of the 2015 season are not on the 2016 roster. At the very least, that means fans will see a