Legendary Indonesian goalkeeper dies after on-field collision with team-mate

A goalkeeper from one of Indonesia's top division team lost his life on Sunday, following a tragic mid-game collision with a team-mate.

Choirul Huda, 38 years old, who played for Persela Lamongan for 19 years, collapsed towards the end of the first-half after colliding with his defender Ramon Rodrigues and an opponent during a match against Semen Padang.

He was seen still conscious immediately after the collision, clutching his jaw but soon collapsed and fell unconscious.

The veteran goalkeeper was then stretchered from the field and rushed to the hospital, where he died.

According to a statement from one of the doctors at the Dr Soegiri Lamongan Hospital, posted on the official Persela website, Huda suffered a “traumatic collision” resulting in a cardiac arrest.

An “initial analysis” suggested that the impact on his chest and lower jaw, resulting in the “possibility of chest trauma, head trauma and neck trauma” could be the cause of Huda’s death.

The match resumed with Persela defeating Semen Padang 2-0.

Huda is a one-club man, having spent his entire playing career with Persela, making more than 500 appearances since his debut in 1999.

Huda, indeed “the Real Legend of Persela”.