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ne of Indonesia’s soccer legends Ribut Waidi, who gained fame in the late 1980s, died at the age of 50 years on Sunday at 5:30 a.m. from a heart attack.

He died at the Tugu Hospital, West Semarang, Central Java. Family members and neighbors had taken Ribut to the hospital after he complained of chest pains. He had the heart attack on the way to the hospital.

“We were shocked because previously he was fine,” Suprapto, a neighbor, said at Ribut’s house in Wahyu Asri Utomo housing complex, Ngaliyan, Semarang.

Born in Pati, Central Java, on Dec. 5, 1961, Ribut made his name when his club PSIS Semarang won the Liga Perserikatan championship in 1987 and as part of the Indonesian team that won the gold medal at the 1987 SEA Games.

Ribut scored the only goal at the SEA Games final when the national team met Malaysia and won 1-0 on Sept. 20, 1987.

Ribut started his soccer career with PS Sukun Kudus in 1976. He moved to Persiku Kudus in 1980. “It was there that he developed his natural skill seriously,” said Bambang, who was a close friend of Ribut.

Ribut made his debut at the national level by joining PS Kuda Laut Pertamina Semarang (1981-1984) then PSIS Semarang (1984-1992) and later with the national side (1986-1990).

Because of his success in the 1987 SEA Games, Ribut was in the national squad throughout 1989-1990 and played in a number of championships including the Piala Kemerdekaan, and Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers.

Because of his achievements, the Semarang municipal administration once dedicated a statue to him on
Jl. Karang Rejo. The statue is no longer there but locals still have fond memories of him.

Neighbors remember Ribut as humorous, humble and willing to share his knowledge and skills. “Despite his big name, he was happy to coach soccer to local kids free of charge,” Suprapto said.

Colleagues remember him as a sharp midfielder known for his dribbling. “His specialty was long sprints right to the opposition’s goalmouth,” Bambang, who also played with PSIS Semarang, said.

Sudaryanto, a colleague of Ribut at the state-owned oil and gas company PT Pertamina Semarang and the company’s soccer club, said that Ribut was a player who did not give up.

“He was firm in what he believed,” said Sudaryanto.

He added that it was also because of such firmness that Ribut was not easily defeated on the soccer field. “This is a characteristic that a soccer player must have; not to give up easily,” he said.

Ribut started his carrier with Pertamina in 1984 as a pump mechanic. His last position at the company was distribution assistant.

“He still was part of the company’s soccer club. He once said, ‘you can keep earning money but you cannot forget soccer’,” Sudaryanto said, quoting Ribut.

Ribut is survived by his wife, a son and two daughters.