Fernand Kashama facts for kids
| Date of birth: | February 24, 1985 |
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| Place of birth: | Kinshasa, Zaire |
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Career information
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| CFL status: | Non-import |
| Position(s): | DL/FB/LB |
| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) |
| College: | Western Michigan University |
| High school: | Notre Dame |
| CFL Draft: | 2008 / Round: 2 / Pick: 16 |
| Drafted by: | Calgary Stampeders |
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Organizations
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Career stats
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| Playing stats at CFL.ca | |
Fernand Kashama, born on February 26, 1985, is a former Canadian football player. He played as a defensive lineman in the Canadian Football League (CFL). The Calgary Stampeders picked him in the second round of the 2008 CFL Draft. He also played college football for the Western Michigan Broncos and later for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
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Early Life and High School Football
Fernand Kashama was born in Kinshasa, Zaire, on February 26, 1985. He grew up in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. In his final year of high school, he played two different positions. He was a wide receiver (catching passes) and a free safety (defending against passes). During that season, he caught 30 passes and gained 700 yards for his team.
College Football Career
Many universities wanted Fernand Kashama to play for their football teams. These included Boise State, Marshall, and Rutgers. He chose to go to Western Michigan University in January 2004.
Starting at Western Michigan
In 2004, his first year, he was a "redshirt" player. This means he practiced with the team but did not play in any games. This allowed him to train and get ready for future seasons. In 2005, he started on the offensive "scout team." This team helps the main team practice by pretending to be the opposing team.
Changing Positions
Kashama played as a tight end (a player who blocks and catches passes) for Western Michigan in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, he changed his position to defensive lineman. This is a player who tries to stop the other team's offense. In his first season as a defensive lineman, he played in all 12 games. He got his first career sack (tackling the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage) against Temple on November 24. In his junior and senior years, playing on the defensive line, he made 14 tackles and had one sack.
Professional Football Career
Playing for the Calgary Stampeders
The Calgary Stampeders chose Fernand Kashama in the 2008 CFL Draft. He was the 16th player picked overall. He went back to Western Michigan for his senior year in 2008. Then, he signed with the Stampeders on May 8, 2009. When he first joined Calgary, he was listed as a linebacker. This is a player who defends against both running and passing plays. But he later changed to play as a fullback for that season. A fullback is an offensive player who blocks for other runners or sometimes carries the ball.
Joining the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
On October 8, 2010, Kashama signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He joined them as a free agent, meaning he was not under contract with any team. He played for the Blue Bombers for the rest of the 2010 season.
Family Connections
Fernand Kashama comes from a family of football players. His older brother, Alain Kashama, also played for the Stampeders. Another brother, Hakeem Kashama, played for three different CFL teams. His cousin, Tim Biakabutuka, played for the NFL's Carolina Panthers. Fernand also has a younger brother named Bronley Kashama, who started attending Eastern Michigan University in 2009.
