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U-16 soccer player Alfin Lestaluhu dies at 15 after surviving Ambon quake
Alfin made his international debut at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Cup in 2019.
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Alfin Lestaluhu, a 15-year-old Indonesian Under-16 (U-16) soccer team player, died on Thursday evening after having survived a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit his hometown in Maluku in September. (Courtesy of PSSI/-)
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lfin Lestaluhu, a 15-year-old member of the Indonesian Under-16 (U-16) soccer team, died on Thursday evening after having survived a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that hit his hometown of Maluku in September.
Soccer Association of Indonesia (PSSI) media officer Bandung Saputra said Alfin passed away at 10:11 p.m. at Harapan Kita Hospital in Jakarta on Thursday.
“According to the doctor, Alfin died from a brain infection,” Bandung said as quoted by kompas.com.
Alfin’s remains were taken to Ambon, Maluku on Friday morning. He was to be laid to rest in his hometown Tulehu in Central Maluku regency, Bandung said.
The late soccer player was among thousands of people affected by the quake that jolted Ambon and its surrounding areas on Sept. 26, which prompted him and his family to take shelter in evacuation camps.
However, Alfin’s health reportedly deteriorated during his time in temporary shelters, tribunnews.com reported. The PSSI then took Alfin to Jakarta for further medical treatment prior to his death.
Prior to joining the U-16 team, Alfin had received soccer training at the Ragunan School for Athletes (SKO) in South Jakarta.
U-16 soccer team coach Bima Sakti subsequently recognized his talents and placed him on the U-16 national team’s roster.
Alfin made his international debut at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-16 Cup in 2019. (gis)
