# Raymond Kalla > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymond_Kalla > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Raymond_Kalla.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Kalla > Source revision: 1325475799 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{short description|Cameroonian footballer (born 1975)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Raymond Kalla | image = | fullname = Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|4|22|df=yes}} | birth_place = [Douala](/source/Douala), [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon) | height = 1.90 m | position = [Centre back](/source/Defender_(association_football)) | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 1993–1995 | clubs1 = [Canon Yaoundé](/source/Canon_Yaound%C3%A9) | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1995–1998 | clubs2 = [Panachaiki](/source/Panachaiki_F.C.) | caps2 = 71 | goals2 = 3 | years3 = 1998–2002 | clubs3 = [Extremadura](/source/CF_Extremadura) | caps3 = 121 | goals3 = 1 | years4 = 2002–2005 | clubs4 = [VfL Bochum](/source/VfL_Bochum) | caps4 = 77 | goals4 = 6 | years5 = 2005–2006 | clubs5 = [Sivasspor](/source/Sivasspor) | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 0 | years6 = 2006–2008 | clubs6 = [Union Douala](/source/Union_Douala) | caps6 = | goals6 = | totalcaps = 295 | totalgoals = 10 | nationalyears1 = 1994–2006 | nationalteam1 = [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon_national_football_team) | nationalcaps1 = 83 | nationalgoals1 = 2 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{CMR}}}} {{MedalComp|[Africa Cup of Nations](/source/Africa_Cup_of_Nations)}} {{Medal|W|[2000 Ghana-Nigeria](/source/2000_Africa_Cup_of_Nations)|}} {{Medal|W|[2002 Mali](/source/2002_Africa_Cup_of_Nations)|}} }} '''Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo''' (born 22 April 1975), known as '''Kalla''', is a Cameroonian former professional [footballer](/source/Association_football) who played as a [central defender](/source/Defender_(association_football)). His main asset was a powerful physique,{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/team_pages/cameroon/squad/newsid_1998000/1998168.stm | title = Raymond Kalla | publisher = [BBC Sport](/source/BBC_Sport) | access-date = 13 July 2012| date = 24 May 2002 }} and he had already been picked by the [Cameroonian national team](/source/Cameroon_national_football_team) for three [World Cups](/source/FIFA_World_Cup) – and started – in his mid-20s. ==Club career== Kalla was born in [Douala](/source/Douala). After starting professionally at [Canon Sportif de Yaoundé](/source/Canon_Yaound%C3%A9), he went on to play in four countries: first [Panachaiki F.C.](/source/Panachaiki_F.C.) in Greece then Spain's [CF Extremadura](/source/CF_Extremadura), where he competed in both major divisions. In 2002, after Extremadura [dropped](/source/2001%E2%80%9302_Segunda_Divisi%C3%B3n) another category to the [third level](/source/Segunda_Divisi%C3%B3n_B), Kalla signed with [VfL Bochum](/source/VfL_Bochum) in Germany{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2067012.stm | title = Kalla goes to Germany | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 26 June 2002 | access-date = 25 February 2012}}– he scored five times in [his last season](/source/2004%E2%80%9305_Bundesliga), second-best in the squad – but the club was relegated from the [Bundesliga](/source/Bundesliga). He also received a three-match ban for anti-doping rules breaching, in late 2003.{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/3320951.stm | title = Kalla gets three game bany | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 15 December 2003 | access-date = 25 February 2012}} Subsequently, Kalla joined Turkish side [Sivasspor](/source/Sivasspor) for the [2005–06 campaign](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_S%C3%BCper_Lig), returning home for two final years at [Union Douala](/source/Union_Douala) and retiring at age 33. ==International career== Kalla won 63 [caps](/source/Cap_(sport)) for [Cameroon](/source/Cameroon_national_football_team), and was a participant at three consecutive [FIFA World Cup](/source/FIFA_World_Cup)s: [1994](/source/1994_FIFA_World_Cup), [1998](/source/1998_FIFA_World_Cup) and [2002](/source/2002_FIFA_World_Cup). In the first he (aged 19) played all the matches and minutes, often being partnered by another youngster, [Rigobert Song](/source/Rigobert_Song) (17), in an eventual group stage exit. He was part of the victorious [2000](/source/2000_African_Cup_of_Nations) and [2002 African Cup of Nations](/source/2002_African_Cup_of_Nations) squads. After the 2002 World Cup, Kalla announced to retire from the national team due to conflicts with the [Federation](/source/Cameroonian_Football_Federation) structure, which he accused of poor organization,{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/africans_abroad/2264220.stm | title = Cameroon star Kalla retiresy | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 17 September 2002 | access-date = 25 February 2012}} but eventually changed his mind.{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/2653347.stm | title = Kalla hints at Cameroon returny | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 13 January 2003 | access-date = 25 February 2012}} Initially summoned for the [2006 Africa Cup of Nations](/source/2006_Africa_Cup_of_Nations), Kalla was forced to withdraw due to injury,{{cite web | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/4662066.stm | title = Kalla pulls out of Cup of Nationsy | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 30 January 2006 | access-date = 25 February 2012}} and retired for the second and definitive time. ==Honours== '''Cameroon''' *[African Cup of Nations](/source/African_Cup_of_Nations): [2000](/source/2000_African_Cup_of_Nations),{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00a.html#squad|title=African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Squads-Lists, Cameroon|access-date=August 9, 2025|language=en}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/00a-det.html|title=African Nations Cup 2000 - Final Tournament Details|access-date=August 9, 2025|language=en}} [2002](/source/2002_African_Cup_of_Nations){{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/02a-det.html|title=African Nations Cup 2002 - Final Tournament Details|access-date=August 9, 2025|language=en}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{BDFutbol|2317}} *{{TFF player|917233}} *{{Lequipe|4853}} *{{NFT player|10490}} *{{FIFA player|130674}} *{{Worldfootball.net|raymond-kalla|new_id=pe41295}} {{Navboxes | title = Cameroon squads | bg = green | fg = yellow | bordercolor = | list1 = {{Cameroon squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}} {{Cameroon squad 1998 African Cup of Nations}} {{Cameroon squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}} {{Cameroon squad 2000 African Cup of Nations}} {{Cameroon squad 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup}} {{Cameroon squad 2002 African Cup of Nations}} {{Cameroon squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}} {{Cameroon squad 2006 Africa Cup of Nations}} }} {{DEFAULTSORT:Kalla, Raymond}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Douala Category:Cameroonian men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Canon Yaoundé players Category:Union Douala players Category:Super League Greece players Category:Panachaiki F.C. players Category:La Liga players Category:Segunda División players Category:CF Extremadura footballers Category:Bundesliga players Category:VfL Bochum players Category:Süper Lig players Category:Sivasspor footballers Category:Cameroon men's international footballers Category:1994 FIFA World Cup players Category:1998 FIFA World Cup players Category:2001 FIFA Confederations Cup players Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players Category:1998 African Cup of Nations players Category:2000 African Cup of Nations players Category:2002 African Cup of Nations players Category:Cameroonian expatriate men's footballers Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Greece Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Spain Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Germany Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Turkey Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Greece Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Spain Category:Cameroonian expatriate sportspeople in Germany --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Raymond Kalla](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Kalla) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Kalla?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.