Opinion
Meet The 1983 Flying Eagles: Part 26 โ In Loving Memory of Raymond King (Ramoni Oba)
๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น ๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ข๐ธ๐ผ๐ธ๐
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ฆ๐ง. ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅโ๐ฆ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐ก ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ฌ: ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ ๐ช๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ฌ
Some footballers are remembered for their extraordinary ability. Others leave behind stories of courage, loyalty and the determination to overcome painful setbacks.
Raymond King belonged to both categories.
Known also as Ramoni Oba, Raymond was one of the remarkable goalkeepers produced by Nigerian school and club football during the late 1970s and 1980s.
His journey took him from St. Finbarrโs College and Greater Tomorrow youth football to the national youth-team environment, the Green Eagles, IICC Shooting Stars and professional football overseas.
But his promising international career was eventually disrupted by an unfortunate incident that had nothing to do with his footballing ability.
His story deserves to be remembered in its entirety.
๐ฆ๐ง. ๐๐๐ก๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅโ๐ฆ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐: ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ง๐ ๐ข๐ ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ
Raymond attended Seventh Day Adventist School in Lagos before progressing to St. Finbarrโs College, Akoka.
Interestingly, he did not begin his football journey as a goalkeeper.
He was originally a striker.
His transformation came through the encouragement of Coach Mike Palagu, who recognized qualities that suggested Raymond could become an outstanding goalkeeper.
Raymond embraced the challenge.
At St. Finbarrโs College, he became part of a respected school football tradition that produced several Nigerian internationals.
He was our goalkeeper, and I remember his confidence, athletic ability and willingness to accept responsibility.
Raymond also played for Greater Tomorrow Youth Football Club at the National Stadium, Lagos, alongside talented youngsters including Stephen Keshi.
Those formative experiences helped establish his reputation long before he became a celebrated figure in Nigerian club football.
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ช๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก๐๐-๐ง๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ข๐๐ก๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
After secondary school, Raymond joined Wema Bank Football Club.
Despite being among the younger players, he established himself as the teamโs first-choice goalkeeper.
His confidence, reflexes and willingness to challenge experienced opponents attracted national attention.
In 1979, Raymond received an invitation to Nigeriaโs Flying Eagles.
By 1981, he had also entered the Green Eagles goalkeeping environment, competing for recognition alongside Peter Rufai and Eta Igbe.
It was a period of exceptional competition.
Raymond later recalled that although he believed strongly in his own abilities, he respected his fellow goalkeepers and their accomplishments.
That confidence was part of his personality.
He did not approach goalkeeping timidly.
๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ง: ๐ ๐๐ข๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฅ ๐ช๐๐ง๐ ๐๐ซ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ซ๐๐ฆ
Raymondโs remarkable athletic ability earned him another nickname: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ฎ๐.
He was known for his spectacular leaps, quick reactions and willingness to leave his goal line to confront danger.
Goalkeeping requires courage because the goalkeeper often becomes the final defender between an opponent and a goal.
Raymond approached that responsibility with confidence.
He understood that exceptional goalkeepers sometimes had to take calculated risks and make decisions within seconds.
Those qualities helped him establish himself among the respected goalkeepers of his era.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐ด๐ฏ ๐๐๐ฌ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ก
Raymondโs football background also connected him with our historic 1983 Flying Eagles.
Having already experienced national youth football, he was among the players brought into the team environment as Nigeria prepared for the FIFA World Youth Championship in Mexico.
The squad combined youngsters from different football backgrounds, each bringing qualities developed through school, club and national-team competitions.
Raymondโs goalkeeping experience and confidence were valuable attributes within that environment.
His name remains part of the preserved historical roster of our pioneering generation.
๐๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐ก๐ ๐ฆ๐ง๐๐ฅ๐ฆ: ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐โ๐ฆ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ฆ๐ง ๐๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐
Raymondโs club career included Julius Berger, Abiola Babes, Shooting Stars and Leventis United.
But his performances with IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan brought him particular continental recognition.
In 1984, Shooting Stars advanced through the African Cup of Champions Clubs competition.
One unforgettable encounter came against Tonnerre Kalara Club of Cameroon.
Shooting Stars won the home leg 4โ0, only to lose the away leg by the same margin.
The contest went to penalties.
Nigeriaโs representatives prevailed 5โ4 in the shootout, securing their passage.
For Raymond, it was one of the demanding matches of his career.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐ด๐ฐ ๐๐๐ก๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ฆ๐ง ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
Shooting Stars eventually faced Zamalek of Egypt in the African Cup of Champions Clubs final.
The Egyptian club won the first leg 2โ0 in Cairo.
In the return encounter at the National Stadium, Lagos, Shooting Stars fought to overturn the deficit.
But an unfortunate own goal ended their hopes.
Zamalek won 1โ0 in Lagos and 3โ0 on aggregate.
Although disappointed, Raymond had helped Shooting Stars reach one of the most prestigious club football finals in Africa.
The achievement deserved recognition.
๐ช๐๐๐ก ๐ญ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ๐จ๐๐ง ๐๐๐
One remarkable revelation emerged years later when Raymond discussed the 1984 final in an interview.
According to his account, Zamalek approached him after the first leg and offered him an opportunity to join the Egyptian club.
The proposed move could have advanced his professional career.
However, Raymond chose not to abandon Shooting Stars before the decisive return encounter.
He valued his commitment to his club and his responsibility to Nigerian football.
Even after the final defeat, he declined to make the move because he feared it could create an incorrect impression about his loyalty.
That decision reflected a footballer who placed personal integrity above immediate opportunity.
๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐ง๐ข ๐๐๐ ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ข๐ก ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐
Raymondโs career subsequently carried him overseas.
In 1989, he played for Tonnerre Kalara Club of Cameroon.
He later moved to Greece, where he represented Aris of Thessaloniki.
It was another important achievement for a Nigerian goalkeeper who had developed through school football and domestic competition.
He was building an international professional career.
Then an unfortunate incident changed everything.
๐ง๐๐ ๐ญ๐ต๐ต๐ฌ ๐ฅ๐ข๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ง๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฆ๐ฅ๐จ๐ฃ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ฆ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐๐ฅ
In 1990, Raymond returned to Nigeria from Greece to visit his family.
Shortly after arriving at the Lagos airport, he was attacked by armed robbers.
They stole his passport and $5,000.
The financial loss was devastating, but the consequences extended further.
Without his passport, Raymond could not immediately return to Greece.
As he attempted to resolve the situation, his professional contract expired.
The incident interrupted a promising overseas football career and created considerable personal hardship.
Raymond later joined Lisabi Warriors for approximately eight months before retiring from active football.
It was a painful ending to a career that had brought him from Lagos school football to a major African club final and European professional opportunities.
๐๐ข๐ข๐ง๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐ฅ๐๐ ๐๐ก๐ง
Raymond eventually established himself in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Although originally connected to Akwa Ibom through his family, he developed a strong personal attachment to Yoruba culture and the Abeokuta community.
He continued contributing to Nigerian football through goalkeeper development.
He worked as a goalkeeper trainer with Gateway Football Club of Abeokuta and was also associated with the Ogun State Sports Council.
For a man whose career had been interrupted so unexpectedly, returning to the game through coaching provided an opportunity to share his experience with younger footballers.
๐๐๐ก๐จ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐ญ, ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ด: ๐ ๐ฃ๐๐๐ก๐๐จ๐ ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ช๐๐๐
Raymond King passed away on January 1, 2018, at the age of 52.
His death followed a serious illness involving a stroke.
Former teammate Tajudeen Disu publicly mourned his passing and described the difficult circumstances surrounding efforts to obtain medical treatment.
The loss was deeply felt within Nigerian football.
Former goalkeepers and football personalities paid tribute to Raymondโs abilities and contributions.
His passing reminded us once again that the footballers who brought joy to supporters during their playing years deserve dignity, support and recognition beyond retirement.
๐ฅ๐๐ฌ๐ ๐ข๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ก๐: ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฉ๐๐ฆ
Raymondโs story encompasses several remarkable chapters.
He developed from a schoolboy striker into an outstanding goalkeeper.
He represented St. Finbarrโs College, played for Greater Tomorrow and progressed into Nigerian club and national-team football.
He helped Shooting Stars reach the 1984 African Cup of Champions Clubs final.
He won the Nigerian FA Cup with Abiola Babes in 1987.
He pursued professional football in Cameroon and Greece.
And after experiencing a devastating interruption to his playing career, he continued serving football through goalkeeper training.
Raymond, your achievements deserved greater recognition during your lifetime.
Your courage, athletic ability and personal determination remain part of Nigerian football history.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฆ๐. ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟโ๐ ๐๐ผ ๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ฟ๐, ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐๐ณ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฐ๐น๐๐ฏ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ผ๐๐ฏ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ถ๐ฒ๐น๐ฑ๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐ฝ๐ฒ, ๐๐ผ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฏ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป๐ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ ๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป.
Your place in the history of Nigerian goalkeeping deserves to be preserved.
๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฒ, ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด โ ๐ฅ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ถ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ฎ.
May your soul continue to rest in perfect peace.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐น ๐๐๐ฐ๐ธ๐ ๐ข๐ธ๐ผ๐ธ๐
FIFA Legend | Former Nigeria Flying Eagles Vice-Captain | Former Super Eagles International | AFCON Silver Medalist | Football Historian | Football Analyst | Investigative Football Writer | Journalist-at-Large | Founder & CEO, Greater Tomorrow Childrenโs Fund (GTCF)
๐๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐บ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐๐:
PaulOkokuMediaHub@gmail.com
๐ฃ๐น๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐น ๐ณ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐น๐ฒ. ๐ช๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ด๐ฒ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ.