From the hospital bed to a football scholarship in Brazil is unbelievable: Raydon Krammer, the young defender from Kamarang

The 18-year-old Raydon Krammer from Warawatta, Kamarang Village,

Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni), being seriously ill in 2022, was advised to take a break from football for at least two years. He completely ignored that advice, and today he holds two Most Valuable Player (MVP) titles.
The young defender’s outstanding performance in the 5th Annual KFC Goodwill International Football Tournament has secured him a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to receive in Brazil training that would hone his skills and competence in the world’s most popular sport — soccer.

Krammer’s elevation is a testament to hard work, discipline, and resilience both on and off the field.
Having led the D.C. Caesar-Fox Secondary (Waramadong) to victory in the 2022 KFC tournament, and Chase’s Academy to another such championship in 2024, he has proven that perseverance and making the right decisions lead to greatness.
As he arrives in Brazil for training, he carries not just his personal dreams, but also the pride and hopes of his community.
“The selection for training in Brazil came as a surprise to me, but leading up to that, I worked really hard. When I heard I was selected, I was very happy…I couldn’t believe it,” young Krammer told Guyana Times Sport in a telephone conversation.

With the expectation that this opportunity would provide him with the necessary exposure to develop himself into a top-tier footballer, Krammer has said, “I want to experience the Brazilian style of playing football; because, as you know, they are one of the greatest teams in the world…I am upbeat and excited to start this new journey. I am very good in the air, and (am) also good at long balls and free kicks, so I expecting to enhance those skills…”
But as this talented young man embarks on a journey to make history, one has to ask how it all started. Born on June 15, 2006 in Kamarang, he started to kick football at the age of three, while attending the Kamarang Primary School. As he grew older, and while attending the D.C. Caesar-Fox Secondary School, his passion for the game intensified.
“I chose football because it is one of the most played sports in my community. It helps to build my confidence and also to strengthen my skills in the departments I am weak in…it also helps me to reduce stress…,” he disclosed.
His dream is to emulate his role model Christiano Ronaldo, who, like he is doing now, had struggled financially. He says that, like Ronaldo, his one goal is to become one of the best footballers in the world.
“He is my role model…apart from being one of the best in the world, he has assisted and continues to help a lot of people, especially children and the less fortunate…One day, I would like to be (like) him, to give back to my community and country…He is my football icon,” Krammer, the product of Kamarang, has said.
Determined to pursue his dream, Krammer migrated to Georgetown after writing the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) examinations, and got enrolled at Chase’s Academic Foundation, where he is presently preparing to write the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE).
Moving to Georgetown mean he had to adopt a different lifestyle, as he had no family members to turn to; but being ready for the challenge and a new beginning, he was able to rent a small apartment with the financial backing of his parents.
He diligently pursued his studies while playing high-quality football. Balancing studies and training, he explained, was a walk in the park for him, although it takes a lot of discipline, perseverance and commitment.
“Balancing study and training (was) not hard. Once you make up your mind to the game, it comes in automatic. I would wake up and study from 4:00h to 5:00h daily, and then start training from 5:00h–5:30h…,” he explained.
“Same thing in the afternoons: I go to classes all day, and around 16:30h- 17:00h, I attend training… It is not hard to balance the two; you just have to make up your mind,” he detailed.
Reflecting on his most competitive match, Krammer detailed that despite playing against scores of local teams, both in his village and in Georgetown, and teams from Suriname and Trinidad, he would rate the clash with the Jamaican team is 2023 as perhaps the toughest.
“The Jamaicans were swift. They were more skillful than us because the standard of football in that country is higher than us; so, it was competitive,” he recalled.
Nevertheless, he related that, once there is team effort, any competitor can be conquered, no matter the circumstance.
“Playing as a team is very important…if you don’t play as a team, there will be a lot of conflicts and inhouse fighting. Playing as a team is all about the camaraderie and love among the players. We tend to push each other, whether (in) theory or practical. We motivate and encourage each other to be the best we can be, and that can erase all fears of competition,” he explained.
As obtains in any sport, players often get nervous and anxious; and for Krammer, it is no different.
“I remember my first match, when I was part of my home team playing in the Open Male competition in my village. I was so nervous and so scared at that time. I was 14, and playing with some big boys and men; but it was a learning process… After some time into the game, my anxiety went away; and so is the same in my other matches: the nervousness, fear, everything gradually disappears. After all my games, I feel accomplished knowing that I have played my best,” he disclosed.
His football career has not been an easy path, having encountered problems, both mental and physical, that led to him fearing he would no longer be able to play the game that he so loved, due to illness. He recalled being seriously ill, back in 2022, as his school team was preparing to travel to Georgetown to participate in the KFC tournament.
“I couldn’t breathe properly, and I was in the hospital for a week on saline and other medications. And it was that time the doctor told me that I won’t be able to play football for the next one and half year or two years…I insisted that I must play. I was the captain, and I felt as if I was letting down my team; so, I had to play,” he reminisced.
He believes that his decision to play was God’s way of telling him that better days were ahead. He emerged from that tournament as the adjudged MVP. In fact, his team was unbeatable in the competition, and ended the tournament without conceding a single goal to any challenger.
“I couldn’t have wished for anything more, other than winning that tournament and beating the Trinidadians in the finals…From the hospital bed to winning the tournament was indeed magical,” he declared.
Despite all his success thus far, he is not certain about the future, but remains optimistic of playing professional football in Europe or Brazil.
“In another few years, I see myself playing for an international team…I would love to play professional football in Europe or in Brazil…I would be so happy if that becomes a reality…it will not only make my family proud, but also my community and Guyana as a whole,” he declared.
In taking that dream a step closer to reality, the young man intends to capitalize on every minute of training in Brazil.
“It is time for me to impress the trainers and do my best…put my best foot forward, and at the same time have some fun doing it,” he confided.
He confessed that it would not have been possible for him to undertake the trip to Brazil without the influence of the Petra Organization, sponsors of the trip, and more so his school, Chase’s Academic Foundation. Moreover, he is expressing deep gratitude to his family for believing in him and his potential. He says he remains indebted to the abovenamed for giving him the opportunity to better his skills.
His advice to other young footballers is to keep working hard and keep praying for what they want to accomplish in life.
“Your dreams will come true… It won’t come right away, but once you keep working and pushing yourself, you are going to make it someday. I have waited so long for this opportunity, and it is finally here. I was patient, and with God’s guidance, everything is possible,” the young Krammer has said.
Further, he has disclosed that, apart from playing football, he loves reading, playing volleyball, exploring nature, and helping his parents in the farm whenever he visits. His favourite colour is dark blue, and if he can have pepperpot and cassava bread three times a day, his culinary dreams would have come true.
A word to all the secret admirers out there: Raydon Krammer, the young defender from Kamarang Village, has already been taken.