Ameer Kinani

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ameer Kinani

| image =

| fullname = Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|4|20}}

| birth_place = Baghdad, Iraq

| height = {{height|m=1.83}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = Al-Khaburah

| clubnumber = 9

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = FC Emery

| youthyears2 =

| youthclubs2 = York Jets SC

| youthyears3 =

| youthclubs3 = Vaughan Azzurri

| collegeyears1 = 2019

| college1 = George Brown Huskies

| collegecaps1 = 8

| collegegoals1 = 7

| collegeyears2 = 2022

| college2 = TMU Bold

| collegecaps2 = 13

| collegegoals2 = 7

| years1 = 2020–2021

| clubs1 = Cartagena FC

| caps1 = 10

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2021

| clubs2 = Atlético Benidorm

| caps2 = 2

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2022

| clubs3 = ProStars FC

| caps3 = 20

| goals3 = 17

| years4 = 2023

| clubs4 = Vancouver FC

| caps4 = 18

| goals4 = 1

| years5 = 2024

| clubs5 = Duhok SC

| caps5 = 1

| goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2025–

| clubs6 = Al-Khaburah

| caps6 = 1

| goals6 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2018

| nationalteam1 = Iraq U19

| nationalcaps1 = 1+

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| club-update = 21:26, 19 January 2025 (UTC)

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Ameer Ala'a Kadhim Kinani ({{Langx|ar|أمير علاء كاظم الكناني}}; born April 20, 2001) is an Iraqi footballer who plays for Oman Professional League side Al-Khaburah Club.

Early life

Born in Iraq, Kinani moved to Canada at age seven,{{cite web|url=https://vancouverfc.canpl.ca/article/ameer-kinani-reflects-on-his-first-year-as-a-pro|title=Ameer Kinani reflects on his first year as a pro|date=August 29, 2023|first=David|last=Nava|work=Vancouver FC}} where he began playing youth soccer with FC Emery (formerly known as Tecnico Ambato FC).{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/this-was-always-my-dream-ameer-kinanis-incredible-journey-to-being-drafted-by-vancouver-fc|title=‘This was always my dream’: Ameer Kinani’s incredible journey to being drafted by Vancouver FC|date=December 19, 2022|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney}}{{Canada Soccer player|id=56232}} He later played youth soccer with York Jets SC and Vaughan Azzurri.

Collegiate career

In 2019, he began attending George Brown College, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{cite web|url=https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/sports/msoc/2019-20/bios/kinani_ameer_eo0m?view=profile|title=Ameer Kinani George Brown profile|work=George Brown College}} On October 14, 2019, he scored four goals in the final twenty minutes of a 6-1 victory over the Cenntenial Colts,{{cite web|url=https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/general/2019-20/releases/soc_recap_Oct_14|title=Soccer teams celebrate seniors deat with sweep of Centennial|date=October 14, 2019|work=George Brown College}} a performance which earned him George Brown's Athlete of the Week honours.{{cite web|url=https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/aotw/2019-20/Week_6_athlete_of_the_week|title=Athletes of the week|date=October 15, 2019|work=George Brown College}}

In September 2022, he began attending Toronto Metropolitan University, where he played for the men's soccer team.{{Cite web|url=https://tmubold.ca/news/2022/9/7/striker-ameer-kinani-bolsters-bold-offence.aspx|title=Striker Ameer Kinani bolsters Bold offence|date=September 7, 2022|first=Andrea|last=Langford|work=TMU Bold}} On October 1, he scored a brace against the Royal Military College Paladins for his first goals.{{cite web|url=https://tmubold.ca/sports/mens-soccer/roster/ameer-kinani/5373|title=Ameer Kinani TMU profile|work=TMU Bold}}{{Cite web|url=https://tmubold.ca/news/2022/10/1/soccer-m-abdi-fafinski-combine-for-eight-goals-bold-blow-past-paladins.aspx|date=October 1, 2022|first=Matt|last=Johnson|title=Abdi, Fafinski combine for eight goals, Bold blow past Paladins|work=TMU Bold}} On October 16, he scored a hat trick against the Laurentian Voyageurs.{{cite web|url=https://tmubold.ca/news/2022/10/16/soccer-m-bold-clinch-playoff-berth-with-6-1-win-over-voyageurs.aspx|date=October 16, 2022|first=Christina|last=Flores-Chan|title=Bold clinch playoff berth with 6-1 win over Voyageurs|work=TMU Bold}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://theeyeopener.com/2022/10/kinani-strikes-late-as-bold-conquer-ravens-advance-to-semi-finals/|title=Kinani strikes late as Bold conquer Ravens, advance to semi-finals|date=October 31, 2022|work=The Eyeopener|first=Mitchell|last=Fox}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://tmubold.ca/news/2022/12/15/soccer-m-bold-forward-ameer-kinani-drafted-by-cpls-vancouver-fc.aspx|title=Bold forward Ameer Kinani drafted by CPL's Vancouver FC|date=December 15, 2022|first=Andrea|last=Langford|work=TMU Bold}}{{cite web|url=https://theeyeopener.com/2023/02/from-u-sports-nationals-to-vancouver-football-club/|title=From U Sports nationals to Vancouver Football Club|date=February 14, 2023|work=The Eyeopener|first=Keiran|last=Gorsky}}

Club career

In 2020, he joined Spanish club Cartagena FC in the Tercera División.{{cite web|url=https://athletics.georgebrown.ca/sports/msoc/2020-21/releases/Pair_of_Huskies_Sign_Pro_Deals_In_Europe|title=Pair of Huskies dign pro deals in Europe|date=November 20, 2020|work=George Brown College}}

In September 2021, he joined Atlético Benidorm in the Preferente Valenciana.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfgandia.es/el-cf-gandia-buscara-su-primera-victoria-como-local-ante-el-atletico-benidorm/|title=El CF Gandía buscará su primera victoria como local ante el Atlético Benidorm|trans-title=CF Gandia will seek its first win at home against Atlético Benidorm|date=24 September 2021|work=CF Gandía|language=es}} However, soon afterwards, he returned to Canada, due to the expiry of his Spanish visa.

In 2022, he played with ProStars FC in League1 Ontario. He was named an honourable mention on the year-end all-stars team list.{{cite web|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/news_article/show/1247891|title=Ilyass, Green, and Ferrin lead the line in the 2022 Men’s Premier Division All-Star team|date=November 17, 2022|work=League1 Ontario}}

In December 2022, he was selected second overall in the 2023 CPL-U Sports Draft by Vancouver FC.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-select-white-kinani-as-clubs-first-ever-cpl-u-sports-draft-picks|title=Vancouver FC select White, Kinani as club’s first-ever CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks|date=December 15, 2022|work=Canadian Premier League|first=Mitchell|last=Tierney}} After attending pre-season with the club, he signed a U Sports developmental contract with the club, allowing him to maintain his university eligibility.{{cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-sign-draft-picks/|title=Vancouver FC Signs Both Draft Picks Ahead Of First Season|date=March 22, 2023|work=Northern Tribune|first=John|last=Jacques}} He made his professional debut on April 15, in a substitute appearance against Pacific FC.{{Cite web|url=https://vancouverfc.canpl.ca/article/18-kinani-will-remain-with-vfc-until-end-of-season|title=#18 Kinani will remain with VFC until end of season|date=August 28, 2023|work=Vancouver FC}} 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.{{Cite web|title=‘Historic’ first home win for Vancouver FC|url=https://www.langleyadvancetimes.com/sports/video-historic-first-home-win-for-vancouver-fc/|date=June 21, 2023|work=Langley Adavance Times}} Upon the expiry of his U Sports deal in August, he extended his contract for the remainder of the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://northerntribune.ca/vancouver-fc-ameer-kinani-stay/|title=Striker Ameer Kinani Extends Stay With Vancouver|date=August 29, 2023|first=John|last=Jacques|work=Northern Tribune}}

In August 2024, he signed with Iraq Stars League club Duhok SC.{{cite web|url=http://azlsport.com/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=32918|title=دهوك يتعاقد مع المهاجم أمير علاء من الدوري الكندي|trans-title=Duhok signs striker Amir Alaa from Canadian League|date=August 8, 2024|work=AZL Sport|language=ar}}

In January 2025, he moved to Oman Professional League club Al-Khaburah.{{cite web|url=https://www.omandaily.om/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B6%D9%8A%D8%A9/na/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D9%8A%D8%B9%D8%B2%D8%B2-%D8%B5%D9%81%D9%88%D9%81%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%82%D9%8A-%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%83%D8%A7%D8%B8%D9%85|title=الخابورة يعزز صفوفه بالعراقي أمير كاظم|trans-title=Al-Khaboura strengthens its ranks with the Iraqi Ameer Kinani|language=ar|date=January 13, 2025|author=الخابورة (Ahmed Al-Buraiki)|work=Oman Daily Observer}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.touchlineinsider.com/the-journey.html|title=The Journey - Just Like Dad|first=Ameer|last=Kinani|work=Touchline Insider}} He was then called up for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship.{{cite web|url=https://canpl.ca/article/vancouver-fc-sign-top-two-2023-cpl-u-sports-draft-picks|title=Vancouver FC sign top two 2023 CPL-U SPORTS Draft picks|date=March 22, 2023|work=Canadian Premier League}}

In December 2022, he attended a camp with the Canada national futsal team, making his debut in the Canadian program.

Personal

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

Career statistics

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|Playoffs !colspan="2"\|Domestic Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
Division !Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cartagena FC \|2020–21{{cite web\|url=https://www.lapreferente.com/J357660C11707/cartagena-fc-ucam/ameer.html\|title=Ameer Kinani La Preferente profile\|work=La Preferente}} \|Tercera División \|10	2	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	1Appearance in the 2021 Tercera División promotion play-offs	0	11	2
Atlético Benidorm \|2021–22 \|Preferente Valenciana \|2	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	2	0
ProStars FC \|2022{{cite web\|url=https://www.league1ontario.com/roster_players/54816135\|title=Ameer Kinani 2022 L1O Stats\|work=League1 Ontario}} \|League1 Ontario \|20	17	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	colspan="2"\|–	21	17
Vancouver FC \|2023 \|Canadian Premier League \|18	1	colspan="2"\|–	1	0	colspan="2"\|–	19	1
colspan="3" \|Career total !50	20	1	0	1	0	1	0	53	20

References

External links

[https://www.lapreferente.com/J357660C11707/cartagena-fc-ucam/ameer.html Ameer Kinani] at La Preferente {{in lang|es}}
{{soccerway|ameer-alaa-kinani/576221}}

Category:Living people

Category:2001 births

Category:Iraqi men's footballers

Category:Men's association football midfielders

Category:Iraqi expatriate men's footballers

Category:21st-century Canadian sportsmen

Category:21st-century Iraqi sportsmen

Category:Cartagena FC players

Category:Tercera División players

Category:ProStars FC players

Category:League1 Ontario players

Category:Vancouver FC players