Former Nigeria goalkeeper Raymond King passes on at 52
According to the Nigerian Football Federation, the former junior international died on New Year’s Day in Lagos.
Former Nigeria junior international goalkeeper Raymond King died on New Year’s Day at the age of 52, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed.
King played for Nigerian sides Shooting Stars and the now defunct team Abiola Babes. He also featured for the Nigeria under-20s in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The high point of King’s career came when the Shooting Stars finished as runners-up during the 1984 CAF African Cup of Champions.
Rest in Peace Raymond King
On Tuesday afternoon, the NFF gave their condolences to the family of the former goalkeeper.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of former Nigeria junior international goalkeeper, Raymond King, who passed on yesterday evening in Lagos. May his soul rest in peace,” the NFF stated on its Twitter account.
Former teammate Tajudeen Disu told CompleteSportsNigeria that King died after a brief illness.
“He was transferred from the State Hospital, Abeokuta, to Ikorodu General Hospital yesterday when his condition was not improving,” Disu said.
“When the news got to the Commissioner for Health in Lagos, Olajide Idris, he directed that he [King] should be taken to LASUTH for better treatment and it was this evening on Monday he got there and LASUTH told us initially they didn’t have electricity to commence treatment or fuel to run their generator.
“But when they eventually started to set up their equipment to treat him he was already gasping for air and he passed on.”
Disu had been making efforts to raise funds for King’s treatment. Eventually, it was to no avail.