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EX-INTERNATIONAL GOALKEEPER, RAYMOND KING DIES ON NEW YEAR DAY
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
At the dawn of 2018, a pall of darkness fell as Nigeria lost one of its former junior international and flamboyant goalkeeper, Raymond King. He was reportedly 52 years. The mystery about him was that some people though his name was Ramoni Oba which he reportedly anglicised as “Raymond King”.
But www.sportsvillagesquare.com gathered from an interview the deceased granted years ago when he said: I am the son of Okon Willie King in Akwa Ibom State. His adopted home was however, Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
He was in goal for the then IICC Shootings Stars in their march to the final of the then Africa Cup of Champions Clubs in 1984 where the club lost to Zamalek of Egypt.
He was also a goalkeeper for the now defunct Abiola Babes of Abeokuta. Www.sportsvillagesquare.com gathered that King died on New Year’s Day just as help was around the corner for the ailing ex-international who reportedly suffered from stroke.
He died of stroke and memory loss on his way to Lagos University Teaching Hospital just before adequate treatment was about to be given to him, Completesportsnigeria.com quoted his former teammate, Tajudeen Disu as saying.
According to information, the late King was receiving treatment at the General Hospital in Ijaye in Abeokuta South West Nigeria about a week ago, but his conditions did not improve.
So, he was transferred to Ikorodu General Hospital in Lagos State. According to another online publication, TheCable, his former teammate, Tajudeen Disu said: “When the commissioner for health in Lagos State heard the news, he asked that the ailing former goalkeeper be transferred to LASUTH (Lagos State University Hospital.
“It was after the scan and series of tests carried out that we were told that there was no light and bed space for him and that we should take him to LUTH (Lagos University Teaching Hospital).
“In such a serious situation, we left LASUTH for LUTH. It was during this period we noticed he started gasping till we got to LUTH.
“The rigours of the journey from LASUTH to LUTH were too much for his frail condition and he gave up in the process.
“It is painful to have lost him at this point that help came to him. But we thank God for his life.
According to information gathered, the dead former player had shown signs of mental instability for about a month before he was taken to the hospital.
According to Kayode Tijani, a sports journalist who spoke to over 20 people on the condition of the dead former player, King did not have a wife staying with him but had had two women as wives who each bore two children for him.
But the marital lives did not last. He played school football across South West Nigeria and was called into the 1979/80 class of the Flying Eagles.
He shot into limelight while featuring for Shooting Stars of Ibadan from where he moved to the mega-paying Abiola Babes of Abeokuta.
He was reported to have worked with the Pepsi Football Academy and later the Ogun State Sports Council where he was later relieved of his duties. Jobless and financially broke, he found succour in local gin popularly called ‘Paraga” which apparently compounded his state.
One of his estranged wives, a policewoman working in Ikorodu reportedly came to his rescue by taking him to the General Hospital in the town. The only known rallying point for him was Tajudeen Disu, a former teammate.
The late King played briefly abroad, featuring for Tonnere Kalala of Cameroon in 1989 before moving to Greece in 1990 to play for Aris Sportiif of Salonika.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Ulsan HD had targeted their Group F opener as their best chance to get a win on the board at the Club World Cup, with Brazil’s Fluminense and German side Borussia Dortmund expected to advance from Group F.
South Africa’s Sundowns took all three points with a 1-0 win over the South Koreans and went top of the group after Fluminense drew 0-0 with Dortmund.
WHY IT’S IMPORTANT
African and Asian teams are not expected to make much of an impact at the new-look 32-team Club World Cup so points are like gold dust for the likes of the Sundowns and Ulsan.
KEY QUOTES
Miguel Cardoso, Mamelodi Sundowns coach: “We prepared tactically and strategically very well, and then we found a commitment between everybody. I think it was clear we made a very wonderful first half. It was important that we could keep the pace and not stray from the game plan in the second half, so that we could score a second goal that for little details or little centimetres, we could not do.”
Kim Pan-gon, Ulsan HD head coach: “We had targeted this game to win because we understand the other two teams in the group, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund, are favourites. Our players gave their best efforts in this game and we’re very proud of their efforts. Now we need to recover quickly for the next game.”
-Reuters
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With a year until Mexico makes history as the first three-time World Cup host, the dream of a spectacular showcase is colliding with the practical challenges of modernising the iconic Azteca Stadium for global soccer’s premier event.
Beneath the imposing silhouette of Mexico’s football cathedral – where Pele dazzled with Brazil in 1970 and Maradona’s ‘hand of God’ propelled Argentina to glory in 1986 – construction crews tackle the formidable task of bringing one of the sport’s most storied venues into the 21st century.
The stakes are magnified as the ‘Santa Ursula colossus’ will host the tournament’s opening match, a global spectacle that will focus the world’s attention on Mexico from day one.
Renovations will expand the stadium’s capacity from 87,000 to 90,000, with upgrades centred on meeting FIFA standards through new changing rooms, enhanced hospitality zones, revamped VIP areas and additional seating in spaces previously occupied by boxes and lounges.
While government officials and football administrators envisioned the project as a symbol of national pride, the renovation process has eroded trust between developers, local residents and other stakeholders.
Stadium administrators announced in February that they had secured a 2.1 billion peso ($110.19 million) credit line from local financial group Banorte – along with a controversial new name: Estadio Banorte.
FIFA regulations mean the stadium will be referred to as “Estadio Ciudad de Mexico” during the World Cup, yet the rebranding has sparked a fierce backlash from some fans, who view it as sacrificing football heritage for commercial interests.
HARSH REALITY
The backlash over the stadium’s new name represents only one facet of the mounting tensions. Box and suite holders – some with relationships spanning decades – have threatened legal action after FIFA announced it would commandeer their seats during the tournament, overriding established contracts.
One member of the Mexican Association of Box Holders has already filed a legal challenge to defend access rights.
Beyond the stadium walls, frustration runs equally deep. Residents of Santa Ursula and surrounding neighbourhoods fear that promised infrastructure improvements like pedestrian bridges and transit lines will fail to address fundamental issues including inadequate lighting, water shortages and persistent traffic congestion.
“We’re not the stadium’s backyard,” one local resident told Expansion Politica. “But we’re always treated that way.”
By contrast, Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico’s other two host cities, face fewer obstacles.
Guadalajara’s 48,000-seat stadium, opened in 2010, has already hosted major events including the 2011 Pan American Games, while Monterrey’s 53,500-capacity venue, inaugurated in 2015, needs only minor upgrades – primarily new turf and a pitch ventilation system.
“We’ll install a system to ventilate and oxygenate the pitch before replacing the grass,” said Alejandro Hutt, Monterrey’s Host City Manager. “That will be an important legacy from the World Cup and beyond.”
As construction continues, Javier Aguirre’s Mexico squad are building towards a crucial summer, with a Gold Cup title defence ahead and friendly matches against Turkey this week, followed by Japan and South Korea in September.
After failing to advance beyond the group stage at Qatar 2022 – their worst World Cup performance since 1978 – Mexican fans crave more than just a well organised tournament. They want to see Mexico break the ‘fifth-game‘ curse and reach the quarter-finals for the first time since 1986, the last time they were World Cup hosts.
-Reuters
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All contenders are now known for this year’s President Federation Cup grand finale, following Saturday’s elimination of Edo Queens and Ibom Angels in the women’s semi-finals.
Multiple-winners Rivers Angels saw off the stiff challenge of Ibom Angels of Uyo 1-0 in Aba, while Nasarawa Amazons bumped Edo Queens 2-0 in Ayingba.
Cup holders Rivers Angels, who have won the competition nine times, will have their hands full against 2005 and 2019 champions Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia.
In the men’s competition, Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi are getting set to tackle Kwara United FC in the final.
Results of Semi Finals (Women)
- Rivers Angels (Rivers) 1-0 Ibom Angels (Akwa Ibom)
- Edo Queens (Edo) 0-2 Nasarawa Amazons (Nasarawa)
Results of Semi-Finals (Men)
- Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) 0-0 Ikorodu City (Lagos) – Abakaliki FC win 5-4 on penalties
- Kwara United (Kwara) 1-0 Rangers Int’l (Enugu)
WOMEN’S FINAL
- Rivers Angels vs Nasarawa Amazons
MEN’S FINAL
- Abakaliki FC VS Kwara United
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