Legendary keeper dies after collision with team mate on field
A goalkeeper in Indonesia’s top division has died after colliding with a team-mate during a league match.
Watch the video of the collision-
Choirul Huda was playing for Persela FC on Sunday against Semen Padang in Liga 1, the top division of Indonesian football when the incident happened just before half-time.
Huda, who was 38, was rushed to Dr Soegiri Lamongan hospital but passed away after failing to respond to treatment.
INNALILLAHI WAINNA ILAIHI ROJIUN
SELAMAT JALAN CAP CHOIRUL HUDA
THE REAL LEGEND OF PERSELA#riphuda pic.twitter.com/SnuiddqdUo— PerselaFC (@PerselaFC) October 15, 2017
Dr Yudistiro Andri Nugroho, an anaesthesia specialist at the hospital, said that the collision caused Huda to “stop breathing” and suffer “cardiac arrest”.
He said “initial analysis” suggested that “impact on the chest and lower jaw” led to the “possibility of chest trauma, head trauma and neck trauma”.
Huda had made over 500 appearances for Persela, who are based in Lamongan. They were the only club that he represented during his career.
In an Instagram message dedicated to Huda, Persela said: “Thanks for the endless dedication and inspiration for Persela, Lamongan and Indonesian football.”
The club added that Huda was “the real legend of Persela”, and that thousands of fans had lit candles in his honour.
The match continued following Huda’s injury, and Persela went on to beat Semen Padang 2-0
A home-town boy, he made his debut in 1999 and was a regular throughout his time with the club.