New Year Day Tragedy: Ex Goalkeeper Raymond King Dies

Before help could come, former Nigerian goalkeeper Raymond King gave up the ghost Monday evening at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) after he had suffered partial stroke.

Reports have it that the former Flying Eagles goalkeeper, aged 52 was earlier receiving treatment at Ogun State General Hospital Ijaye, Abeokuta, before he was taken to the General hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The condition of the Akwa Ibom State born player worsened in Ikorodu until the Commissioner for Health in Lagos state, Dr Olajide Idris stepped in after which he gave the directive that the ex goalkeeper be taken to LASUTH for proper treatment. This could not save him on the New Year day that he arrived the teaching hospital.  Before the doctors could begin the treatment, he died.

“He was transferred from the State Hospital, Abeokuta to Ikorodu General Hospital yesterday when his condition was not improving.

“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 that he got there and LASUTH told us initially that 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,” Tajudeen Disu, a former teammate recounted the terrible experience to Complete Sports Monday evening.

A report in Premium Times revealed that, Goalkeeper King, who was with Flying Eagles from 1979 to 1980 was earlier noticed by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Ogun State chapter and a release was made on his state of health for a fund raising for him, but death came calling before help could come.

“Ogun SWAN is particularly sad, as the former Nigerian goalkeeper gave up the ghost about an hour after the association issued a press release on his state of health and the need for urgent help for him to get out of the hospital bed,” SWAN Secretary, Sanusi Lateef told Premium Times.

“The association sympathises with his family and prays God to be with his family and give them fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. King has been on hospital bed with partial stroke since last week.

“He was initially admitted at the Ogun State General Hospital Ijaye, Abeokuta, before he was taken to the General hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State, from where Lagos State Government stepped in. ”

The late King was outstanding for Shooting Stars of Ibadan during the then CAF African Cup Championship, in 1984, where Shooting Stars were runners-up to Zamalek of Egypt.

He also featured for the defunct Abiola Babes of Abeokuta with whom he won the 1987 FA Cup title.

He was said to have been living alone in Abeokuta after he was sacked at Gateway FC as a goalkeeper trainer up until the time of his death, although he had four children from two women.