Pa-Modou Kah

PROFILE
Pa-Modou Kah joined Whitecaps FC in January 2015 after playing two seasons with MLS rivals Portland Timbers. The veteran centre back has also featured for clubs in Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia and has 10 caps with the Norwegian men’s national team. After his first season in Vancouver when he led Whitecaps FC defenders in goals with three, he was re-signed by Whitecaps FC on a one-year extension before joining WFC2 as a player/coach in August 2016. 

UNITED SOCCER LEAGUE
2016: Kah joined Whitecaps FC 2 as a player/coach in August, helping guide the team to a Western Conference Final runner-up finish. He started each of his three appearances in the second half of the season.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER
2016: Kah started four of his five regular season appearances before moving to a player/coach role with Whitecaps FC 2. In addition, Kah captained the international friendly against Crystal Palace FC. 2015: Kah finished his first season with Whitecaps FC with 24 starts in 25 regular season appearances. He led all Vancouver defenders with three goals, to go along with two assists. He was named MLS Player of the Week after his Week 22 brace in the 3-0 win versus rival Seattle Sounders FC. Kah was also selected to MLS Team of the Week after leading the ‘Caps to a shutout win at Real Salt Lake in Week 7. 2014: Kah scored one goal in 20 appearances, all starts, in the 2014 MLS season for Portland Timbers. He scored his first career MLS goal, a late-game equalizer on June 11 against FC Dallas. 2013: Kah started all 20 of his appearances during the regular season after signing with the Timbers in May. He also started all four of the club's matches in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs, playing all 360 minutes. Kah helped the club record shutouts in 11 of his 20 games played as the Timbers set a new MLS single-season record with 11 home shutouts during the season, as well as the second most total shutouts in an MLS regular season with 15. Kah started all five matches of the club's 450-minute, home shutout streak from September 7 to October 19 to end the regular season.

CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
2016: Kah captained Whitecaps FC in his only Champions League appearance, playing the full 90 minutes in their 1-0 shutout win over Central FC. 2015: Kah played the full 90 minutes in his only appearance in CCL action with Whitecaps FC, at Seattle Sounders FC on September 23. 2014: While playing for Portland, Kah logged 90 minutes in a 4-1 win over Alpha United on August 19.

AMWAY CANADIAN CHAMPIONSHIP
2016: Kah played the full 90 minutes in his only tournament appearance, the first leg of the ACC final versus Toronto FC on June 21.

SAUDI ARABIA
2012-13: Kah joined Al-Wehda FC in the Saudi Arabian Premier League, starting all 10 of his appearances. 

QATAR
2012-13: Kah made three appearances for Al Khor at the start of the Qatar Stars League season. 2011-12: Kah joined Al Khor of the Qatar Stars League, making 10 starts and scoring a single goal. He also spent time on loan at Qatar SC from Al Khor, appearing in seven matches. 

NETHERLANDS
2010-11: Kah’s seventh and final season in the Eredivisie saw him start 32 matches and score a career-high four goals, helping the club to a sixth-place finish. He played the full 90 minutes in all but three of his appearances during the season. 2009-10: Kah started 16 matches and complemented that with seven substitute appearances, adding two goals. 2008-09: Another consistent year for Kah saw him start 24 of 27 appearances for Roda JC, adding two assists. 2007-08: Kah started 28 of his 30 Eredivisie appearances, scoring one goal on the season at home to SC Heracles. He aided in Roda’s run to the Dutch Cup final, scoring a goal in a cup tie on February 26, 2008, as part of a 3-1 win over Dordrecht 90. 2006-07: Kah started 29 games in 31 appearances, scoring two goals in a three-match span at home Excelsior April 7, 2007 and away to NAC Breda on April 22. Kah also suited up twice in the KNVB Cup, starting once. 2005-06: In his first full season with Roda JC, Kah started 32 of Roda’s 34 league matches, contributing to a top 10 finish in the Dutch Eredivisie. He competed in the 2005 UEFA Intertoto Cup, reaching the semifinals against Spanish side Valencia. 2004-05: Kah joined Dutch Eredivisie side Roda JC, marking his debut on January 22, 2005, against De Graafschap. He scored three goals in his first season with his first coming seven minutes into his second match, helping Roda JC to a 4-0 win against Willem II Tilburg on January 28, 2005.

SWEDEN
2004: In his lone full season with AIK, Kah made 21 starts in 22 appearances and scored one goal on July 7 versus Kalmar in a 1-1 draw. 2003: Kah joined AIK Stockholm at the end of the 2003 season, starting the final five games of the season. His first appearance was on September 14, a scoreless draw versus Orebro. Kah started both legs of the first round of the 2003-04 UEFA Cup for AIK against eventual champions Valencia.

NORWAY
2003: Kah’s final season with Vålerenga included 17 appearances, which were all starts. Kah was able to add two goals – April 21 versus Aalesund 3-1 and May 29 versus Molde 2-0, both wins to help Vålerenga avoid relegation. 2002: Kah’s fifth season in Norway saw 21 starts complemented with four substitute appearances. Kah scored twice in league play, both 4-0 wins. He also started in the Norwegian Football Cup and helped Vålerenga to a 1-0 victory over Odd Grenland at Ullevaal Stadion in Oslo, Norway on November 3. 2001: Kah became a regular contributor with 17 starts from 21 appearances, scoring once on June 10 versus Sandefjord. 2000: Kah appeared 15 times during the Tippeligaen season, making four starts. He scored his first professional goal on July 26 against Haugesund in a 2-0 win. 1999: Kah made his professional debut as a teenager, entering as a substitute on the final league day on October 23 in a 2-1 win over Kongsvinger IL.

INTERNATIONAL
A dual Gambian-Norwegian citizen, Kah has 10 caps for the Norwegian men’s national team, including five starts. His international debut came as a 20-year-old on January 24, 2001 in a 3-2 win against South Korea, starting and playing the full 90 minutes. Kah’s lone international goal came on November 20, 2002 when he entered as a substitute in the 68th minute and scored the winning goal in the 81st minute of a 1-0 victory. Kah last suited up for Norway on February 6, 2008 against Wales. Kah also represented Norway 18 times at the U-21 level, scoring three times.

PERSONAL
Kah’s father played for The Gambia men’s national team, while his mother played for The Gambia women’s national basketball team. At the age of eight, Kah left The Gambia for Norway, where his father was playing professional soccer.

INTERESTING FACTS
Kah played his last international match with Norway against Whitecaps FC head coach Carl Robinson’s Welsh side, who won the match 3-0. Kah has played professionally in six leagues and seven different countries, including Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, USA, and Canada. He signed his first professional contract at 17 and became the first fully black player to represent Norway’s men’s national team when he was 20.