Man dies after collapsing in soccer match

A 24-YEAR-OLD football player collapsed and died during a soccer match on Saturday.

Taarah Shalyefu collapsed during a game against Ohangwena Nampol, his uncle Ongwediva mayor Taarah Shalyefu said.

The younger Shaylefu was named after his uncle.

Shalyefu said while his nephew was on the pitch, he became unwell and was taken out for first aid treatment but he continued to play afterwards.

Shalyefu said the young man only played for eight more minutes before he collapsed and was stretchered off the field and rushed to Engela District Hospital. He died on his way to the hospital.

Taarah graduated in education this year and he was employed at Woermann Brock, Oshakati, his uncle said. Ohangwena police spokesperson sergeant Andrew Nghiyolwa confirmed the death.

“I don’t have sufficient information, we understand the man died at a tournament on Saturday at Ponhofi Senior Secondary School,” he said.

The mayor yesterday said the young Taarah grew up at his house.

“He was just like my son. A lot of people thought he was my biological son. He scooped Mr Personality at a beauty pageant at Hifikepunye Pohamba campus in 2019,” he said.