Raymond Kalla

{{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, Cameroon

| height = 1.90 m

| position = Centre back

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1993–1995 | clubs1 = Canon Yaoundé | caps1 = | goals1 =

| years2 = 1995–1998 | clubs2 = Panachaiki | caps2 = 71 | goals2 = 3

| years3 = 1998–2002 | clubs3 = Extremadura | caps3 = 121 | goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2002–2005 | clubs4 = VfL Bochum | caps4 = 77 | goals4 = 6

| years5 = 2005–2006 | clubs5 = Sivasspor | caps5 = 26 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2006–2008 | clubs6 = Union Douala | caps6 = | goals6 =

| totalcaps = 295 | totalgoals = 10

| nationalyears1 = 1994–2006 | nationalteam1 = Cameroon | nationalcaps1 = 83 | nationalgoals1 = 2

}}

Raymond Koned Kalla Nkongo (born 22 April 1975), known as Kalla, is a Cameroonian former professional footballer who played as a central defender.

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 | access-date = 13 July 2012| date = 24 May 2002 }} and he had already been picked by the Cameroonian national team for three World Cups – and started – in his mid-20s.

Club career

Kalla was born in Douala. After starting professionally at Canon Sportif de Yaoundé, he went on to play in four countries: first Panachaiki F.C. in Greece then Spain's CF Extremadura, where he competed in both major divisions.

In 2002, after Extremadura dropped another category to the third level, Kalla signed with 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, 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.{{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 for the 2005–06 campaign, returning home for two final years at Union Douala and retiring at age 33.

International career

Kalla won 63 caps for Cameroon, 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 (17), in an eventual group stage exit. He was part of the victorious 2000 and 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 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, 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.