Raymond Kalla
| Personal information |
| Full name |
Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo |
| Date of birth |
(1975-04-22) 22 April 1975 (age 37) |
| Place of birth |
Douala, Cameroon |
| Height |
1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) |
| Playing position |
Centre back |
| Senior career* |
| Years |
Team |
Apps† |
(Gls)† |
| 1993–1995 |
Canon Yaoundé |
? |
(?) |
| 1995–1998 |
Panachaiki |
71 |
(3) |
| 1998–2002 |
Extremadura |
121 |
(1) |
| 2002–2005 |
Bochum |
77 |
(6) |
| 2005–2006 |
Sivasspor |
26 |
(0) |
| 2006–2008 |
Union Douala |
? |
(?) |
| National team |
| 1994–2006 |
Cameroon |
61 |
(1) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
|
Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo (born 22 April 1975 in Douala), known as Kalla, is a Cameroonian retired footballer who played as a central defender.
His main asset was a powerful physique,[1] and he had already been picked for three World Cups – and started – in his mid-20's.
During 15 years as a professional, Kalla played in four different countries with six different clubs.
Club career
After starting professionally at Canon Sportif de Yaoundé, Kalla went on to play in four different countries: first Panachaiki FC in Greece, then Spain's CF Extremadura (where he played in both major divisions).
In 2002, after Extremadura dropped another category to the third level, Kalla signed with VfL Bochum in Germany[2] – he scored five times in his last season, second-best in the squad – but the club was relegated from the Bundesliga. He also received a three-match ban for anti-doping rules breaching, in late 2003.[3]
Subsequently, Kalla joined Turkish outfit Sivasspor for 2005–06, returning home for two final years at Union Douala, retiring at 33.
International career
Kalla played for Cameroon 61 times, and was a participant at three consecutive FIFA World Cups: 1994, 1998 and 2002. In the first, he (aged 19) played all the matches and minutes, often being partnered by another youngster, Rigobert Song (18), in an eventual group stage exit.
After the 2002 World Cup, Kalla announced to retire from the national team due to conflicts with the Federation structure, which he accused of poor organization,[4] but eventually changed his mind.[5]
Initially summoned for the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations, Kalla was forced to withdraw due to injury,[6] and retired for the second and definitive time.
References
External links
| Persondata |
| Name |
Kalla, Raymond |
| Alternative names |
|
| Short description |
Cameroonian footballer |
| Date of birth |
22 April 1975 |
| Place of birth |
Douala, Cameroon |
| Date of death |
|
| Place of death |
|
