‘The perfect Gift’: Krammer overjoyed with Brasil training stint selection

A story of sacrifice and dedication has produced a touching result 3 days before Christmas, with Raydon Krammer of D.C. Caesar Fox (Waramadong) Secondary in Region 7 receiving a gift he had always longed for: an opportunity to train and hone his football skills in Brazil.
Described as ‘a wall in the defence’, Raydon Krammer is no stranger to success. Two years ago, the then 16-year-old led his team to a championship win in the 3rd edition of the KFC Goodwill Tournament. Two years later, Krammer, who is now on scholarship at Chase’s Academic Foundation in Georgetown, replicated the feat to become the only player to have won the tournament twice.
Not only did Raydon enjoy celebrating with his team, but he has a personal achievement to relish, after being adjudged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, — an accolade that has attached the opportunity to travel to Brazil for an all-expenses- paid, 3-month training stint with Academia de Futebol Real Brasil in 2025.

In this teenager’s own words, the opportunity is the perfect Christmas gift.
“I would consider the MVP award the perfect Christmas gift, cause it’s like a dream come true. I’ve worked hard towards this; I’ve worked hard to be the MVP. I’ve been waking up early morning, going to afternoon training, and it’s the best and the perfect Christmas gift, cause all my hard work came through at the end of the year,” Krammer expressed. “I felt happy when I heard I was the MVP. I wasn’t expecting that. I wasn’t expecting any of it.”
Krammer had his initiation in the sport when he was just 3 years old, when he began ‘kicking ball’. His lack of the most critical resource for the sport had led to innovation and the development of his skill.
He told <<Guyana Times Sport,>> “I didn’t own a ball. Me and my uncles would make a ball out of socks. We would roll it up, and that’s how come I started to juggle the ball, I started to know how to control a ball. It made it easier for me to control the real football from the scrap ball we made.”
He added, “I realise that I wanted to go further in the sport when I was the age of 8; that’s when I joined an under-13 football team.”
Speaking with this publication after learning the news of his selection, an emotional Krammer detailed how much the opportunity means to him, after missing out on a previous similar chance because of financial constraints.
The defender shared, “I’ve waited for this moment for a long time. Since I’m small I’ve been training, and wanted to get this opportunity. I had the opportunity once, but I didn’t get to go because of financial problems and so. So now I’m really happy to get this scholarship, because I’m going to represent my country; I’m going to represent my family, my former school and my new school that I’m attending, and I’m so happy.”

Asked about his reaction, he responded, “My reaction? I couldn’t believe it, because it’s a golden opportunity for me, which I know my parents are watching at home and they’re happy. I’m happy for myself also, and I want to thank the Heavenly Father for giving me this opportunity,” the teenager fervently expressed.
The 18-year-old who hails from Kamarang/Warawatta in Region 7, going on to detail his training regimen, which also goes hand-in-hand with his focus on academics, revealed, “For the past few tournaments with Chase’s Academic Foundation, normally I get up in the morning, do my own personal training, ball touches, do my own dynamics, my own physical training. I would sometimes go on the seawall and run. When I go back home for holidays, I do my own personal training. My dad would encourage me to do my training, and I just want to thank my dad and all my family who have been supporting me: my mother, my brothers, my sisters, encouraging me to go to training every morning at 4:30.”
He added, “In the afternoon, I would go to training like 4:30, 5 o’clock and finish 8 o’clock in the night. That has been pushing me towards my physical fitness, my stamina, and I’m so happy for myself. Once I make up my mind, I push myself towards it.”
Further, he said, “My dad used to tell me, ‘You have to do your studies while going to sport also, you have to balance it’.”
Krammer’s training stint in Brazil is expected to commence in February.
Out of 8 teams from around the Caribbean, Krammer has most impressed Talent Scout Narada Wilson, who revealed that he has an 83.2% pass accuracy average.