He's not in Dallas to entertain - but to fight for a place in Graham Potter's national team. And he laments the situation in Congo-Kinshasa and the consequences for the nation's World Cup team.
Ken Sema was born in Norrköping to Congolese parents. His ties to Congo-Kinshasa are "fairly extensive," he said at a press conference at FC Dallas Stadium.
"A lot of family there"
I speak the language fluently. I was there once when I was a little younger. I have a lot of family there. At home we eat Congolese food, listen to Congolese music. It's more or less a Congolese culture with a Swedish touch to it all, says the 32-year-old.
The latest Ebola outbreak has had a major impact on the country's national football team, which for the first time since 1974 - then under the name Zaire - has made it to the World Cup finals and will face Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
"It's clear that there's a lot of writing about Ebola. It may not have spread as much as it sounds in the media. It's a shame that it's affected the team, but I think they've found a way to get stronger and I think it can work out well for them," says Sema.
Congo's planned World Cup warm-up match against Chile in Spain was canceled due to Ebola fears. The national team had to move its training camp from its home country to Belgium to avoid a three-week quarantine before entering the United States.
Congo, like Sweden, is based in Houston, Texas, but neither supporters nor journalists are allowed to follow the team. They have been denied visas due to the Ebola outbreak.
Sweden given choice
The vast African country is also plagued by recurring internal strife. Ken Sema sees the World Cup as something that can hopefully unite the population. He follows the nation he has his roots in.
I have a little idea. I think that in big tournaments like this, the people of a country come very close to each other. That applies to all countries, even in Sweden. If you can give a country joy by playing football, it means a lot.
Before he joined the national team, the Congo-Kinshasa Football Association contacted his father. But Ken Sema wanted to play for Sweden.
It wasn't a big deal. I'm happy and grateful that I did it. Sweden came first, he says.
