EFL star forced to come off after channelling inner Emmanuel Adebayor against former club

Bobby Kamwa ran the length of the pitch when celebrating against Newport County – only to be substituted immediately after.

The winger scored his side’s fourth goal in their 5-3 victory on Saturday, which claimed their first points of the League Two season.

Sky Sports

Sky Sports

Kamwa ran onto the end of a fantastic pass from goalkeeper Brad Young, cut onto his right foot and fired into the top right corner.

Starting inside the area, he then sprinted towards the Newport fans, who were positioned at the other end of the Memorial Stadium pitch.

He passionately celebrated in front of his former club’s supporters in what appeared to be a recreation of a famous celebration.

Emmanuel Adebayor memorably ran from one end of the pitch at the Etihad Stadium to the other in 2009 when at Manchester City.

He scored in a 4-2 Premier League win over Arsenal, who he had left only weeks beforehand, and enraged their fans with his antics.

Kamwa did the same as objects appeared to be thrown his way as he revelled in his goal, although boss Steve Evans defended the celebration.

What did Evans say about Kamwa?

Speaking to the media afterwards, he hinted that the 26-year-old received some unsavoury remarks during the match.

“Bobby’s is a fantastic goal, but some of the comments aimed at Bobby on my left-hand side today have got no place in football. That’s just where it is.

“And I have a lot of time for the ownership model at Newport County, and the fans have always been fair with me and give me a bit of banter, etc.

“But some of them, it’ll be individuals, possibly, that overstepped the line.

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“So when Bobby sticks a goal at that end, Bobby’s a little Yorkshire boy who’s got character and a bit of fight, a bit of spirit.

“I read his words in the Bristol press earlier this week when he said, if they give me some proper stick, I’ll celebrate.

“If they behave themselves, I wouldn’t, you know, if they’re not giving Bobby some outrageous chants, then I don’t think Bobby would have been running 100 yards.”

Evans then revealed that Kamwa’s celebration took a lot out of him, so much so that he was brought off for the final 11 minutes.

“He had to come off afterwards,” he explained. “He was very tired.”

Bristol Rovers, who lost 3-2 to York City on the opening weekend, are tenth in League Two thanks to the win over Newport.

They are playing in their second consecutive season in the fourth-tier following League One relegation in the 2024/25 campaign.