Tuesday, October 20, 2009 2:30
25-year old collapses during football match and dies in hospital
In Main Stories, Top Story, Uncategorized • 1,609 views • 18 Comments
Report by Terence Lee / Photo by Damien Chng
IT WAS meant to be a momentous Sunday morning for the organisers and the people they were supporting – the homeless Singaporeans.
But things took a tragic turn when Muhamad Nasri Kasbari, 25, collapsed on the field during a match for Team Hope.
He later died on Sunday afternoon at Tan Tock Seng hospital where he had been brought to.
(Photo: Nasri, wearing a blue jersey, died in Tan Tock Seng Hospital at about 1.22pm.)
Team Hope is New Hope Community Services’ (NHCS) project of providing homeless Singaporeans a means to re-build their lives through football. For the players of the team, NHCS provides programmes for family-bonding for the players and their families and it provides counseling as well, amongst other initiatives. Team Hope is inspired by the Homeless World Cup, an annual global football competition where as many as 50 countries have taken part.
The official launch of Team Hope was held at the Woodlands Sports Stadium, with Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs, K Shanmugam, as guest of honour. It was then followed by the team’s first game – a friendly match against a Mediacorp celebrity team.
The proceedings went smoothly, and the 200 people in the crowd, which included spouses and children of the players, waited in anticipation of the match as the players were kitted out in brand new jerseys and boots.
At about 11.15am, the match went underway. The first half was keenly contested, with the amateurs from Team Hope putting up a surprisingly cohesive display. 10 minutes into the second half, however, tragedy struck. Team Hope’s goalkeeper, Muhamad Nasri Kasbari, suddenly collapsed on the field. The game was stopped immediately and medics attended to him, giving him resuscitative medical attention, including CPR.
A little while later, an ambulance arrived and ferried Muhamad Nasri to the Tan Tock Seng hospital. Unfortunately, at about 1.22pm, he was pronounced dead. In a statement to the press, New Hope Community Services (NHCS) said the cause of Muhamad Nasri’s death was identified as cardiorespiratory failure.
Teammate Mohd Shah, a 42-year-old odd job worker, said that Muhamad Nasri appeared fit throughout the match.
“During the first half, he looked fine, [and he] enjoyed the game very much,” Mohd Shah told The Online Citizen. “He looked very cheerful.”
Englishman Mark Colbridge, a 34-year-old regional manager, and his wife were there as volunteers for the event. When Mr Colbridge saw the players rush over to Muhamad Nasri on the field, he initially thought nothing of it.
“They were putting up umbrellas and fanning him, and I thought he probably hurt his ankle,” said Mr Colbridge.
For the organisers, “the death has put a sad note to an otherwise great event,” said Pastor Andrew Khoo, chairman of the Team Hope committee. Even though the weather was scorching, he felt that Mr Rahmat Hashim, the team manager and coach for the team on Sunday, had taken every precaution possible — including giving proper briefings, a half hour warm-up session for the players before the match and hydration regimes for the players.
Mr Rahmat had advised the players not to push themselves too hard as this was only the team’s first match. During the game, Mr Rahmat substituted the players regularly, giving all of the 19 players on his team a chance to play in the game.
“When something like this happens,” Pastor Khoo says, “we learn a lesson and try to do it better by putting in more safeguards. But we also want to be careful not to overdo it.”
His immediate concern now is the welfare of Muhamad Nasri’s wife and her three children.
The president of NHCS, Pastor Neo Ban It, and committee members of Team Hope attended the funeral of Muhamad Nasri on Monday.
In its statement, NHCS said, “New Hope Community Services continues to support Muhamad Nasri’s family through this period of bereavement. Our thoughts are with his wife and children, who have requested for privacy during this difficult time.”
*Additional reporting by Andrew Loh.
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Press statement from New Hope Community Services:
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Muhamad Nasri Kasbari.
Muhamad Nasri was a resident at a shelter for the homeless run by New Hope Community Services.
On Sunday, 18 October 2009, Muhamad Nasri took part in a friendly match at the official launch of Team Hope, New Hope’s football team for homeless people. The event was held at Woodlands Sports Stadium. During the second half of the match, Muhamad Nasri, who was playing goalkeeper, suddenly collapsed on the pitch at 12.10 pm. He received immediate resuscitative treatment from several trained medics who were standing by. An ambulance arrived at 12.25 pm and he was then taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital for further treatment.
Muhamad Nasri was pronounced dead at 1.22 pm. The cause of death was identified as cardiorespiratory failure.
He was 25 years old.
New Hope Community Services continues to support Muhamad Nasri’s family through this period of bereavement. Our thoughts are with his wife and children, who have requested for privacy during this difficult time.
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The Online Citizen expresses its deepest condolences to Muhamad Nasri Kasbari’s family.
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18 Comments
andrewong2024
Really sad… =(
Shihan
Deepest condolences…
iamaplantman
life is short
so don’t just played too hard
please ignored niki advert
don’t do it if you cannot make it
get a cab..if you have too
This is a shocking piece of news, and a very unfortunate start for what is a meritorious and an ambitious project… My condolences go to his family, relatives and friends. It is really tragic given his age and the fact that he has a family to support…
insider
Learnt that the match was delayed for over an hour due to the late arrival of the GOH. planned for early morning, the match was started close to noon under a scorching sun. This was due to the late arrival of GOH plus the speech and booms!! that comes with the arrival of GOH.
The goalkeeper was last seen puncing on an incoming ball and on mid air went into epilepsy and fell without breaking fall. Heat Stroke could have been a contributor to this event.
Fgo
Why did they even bother waiting for this “Guest of Honour” K Shanmugam who has no honour at all?
I’m sorry to the family and the organisers for the young man’s loss. I know you’re all trying to do good work.
2 weekends ago, I attended a talk about heart condtions and learnt that there were many cases of footballers dying on the game.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_footballers_who_died_while_playing
prettyplace
My condolences to his family and friends.
Such a sad thing to happen to someone so young.
Wah Bian Ah
I believe it could be due to their up and down in life that already caused the body much stress.
A lack of constant body conditioning/exercising to sustain the beating of a football game.
A lack of sleep due to pressure to perform during this faithful game.
Smoking and drinking can also take a toll on the person.
Reasons can be many.
shortyz
Personally, I believe that when your time is up, though it is hard for the ones left behind, one will haveta go alone.
He was my brother-in-law and mind you, he was not 25, but just 24. So Terence Lee, I truly do appreciate your post on this, but I also wish to correct the misprinted age.
I would also like thank New Hope, for all their kindness, sincerities, and all that they have given, and done, for our family, especially during the day my late brother-in-law was buried.
Thank you to all that has posted the comments and all your wishes, but right now, I hope the reporters and would please, give my sister, the wife, of the faithful departed, some privacy and space, as she is going through a very difficult moment in her life.
To all those who have been there for our family, since last Sunday, I would like to thank you, on behalf of my sister and our family. I just hope and pray that, our lives, especially for my sis and her young kids, would be a better one as my late brother-in-law had always wanted.
Nas, you’re always loved by us, boy.. Thank you for being part of our family, even for that short moment of all our lives.
Nas was a big-hearted person, full of laughs, perks, always, there to help and would always fight for what he felt was right. Now, I can only hope to do the same for my sis and the kids.
T
/// 6) insider on October 20th, 2009 3.56 pm
The goalkeeper was last seen puncing on an incoming ball and on mid air went into epilepsy and fell without breaking fall. Heat Stroke could have been a contributor to this event. ///
It was reported in today’s ST that he was born with a hole in the heart and was patched up as a kid.
Brendan
My deepest condolences to Mr Kasbari and his family.
However, I would like to know if his organs was harvested under the HOTA at TTSH before he was buried.
Has the law been changed to include Muslims? Important question, my dear friends.
Shortyz
My post is with regards, to Brendan’s post:-
He has been buried and every organs of his, is intact.
Also, right now, my sister is very distressed bout this issue as she has clearly mentioned not to post my late brother-in-law’s photo as to avoid gossips and lots of other matters.
I sincerely hope that the reporters would respect my sister’s privacy with regards to this matter as she is very, very emotional right now.
Thank you
Brendan
Thanks.
I understand how you feel. I asked this as HOTA it a matter of public interest. I would like to thank that the hospital staff for respecting the situation you are in and they are not heartless after all.
I respect the family’s privacy and grief and agree that we should not entertain any further gossips over this.
May peace be with you.
It’s another sad day. Today I also read of a man who work more than 12 hours a day. Died of under-sleep. Exhaustion. At least the family knows why he died!
Why does a young fit 25 year old sports-loving man die? How many of us have fut young people at home or at least know of a family who does? How many more will have to die before the truth be told?
Still many young and fit people drop dead during sports. In UK, in Australia, in Singapore and Malaysia.
Still, our governments (global problem) are ignoring genetically modified foods and drinks. Genetically modified diseases. Genetically modified vaccines. What I have been saying to the TOC team via emails.
Still, many are clueless. May be I am clueless but my words are of little use until someone in postmortem is relentless enough to want and FIND the truth! The dead will tell you why they died!
While we are clueless to actual cause of deaths, what REALLY caused his death? We don’t just say THAT’S SAD, we should also ask WHY? Can such death be prevented???
Team Hope CAN BE BETTER! And I hope they will be the best!
May the light be with the family of Muhamad Nasri, for this difficult time.
P.S. Was heat stroke, lack of sleep the only reasons of death? I feel there is more to it. Look at the number of deaths of young fit people – and these are ONLY published cases:
Dreamer
Hmmm… something strange, why would any organiser want to start a soccer match at 11.15am? Assuming it is a game of 30 min per half with 15 min half time, the game would carry through past 12.30pm. Are the organisers out of their mind? So much for charity.
Our condolences are with Nasri, saddening to hear the passing of a young life, hopefully he has gone to a better place.
Reminded me of a sunday match that I was involved in. Supposed to be a father and son outing, but the father collapsed and died from cardiac arrest.. Very tragic..
Here’s a toast to those who dare play the beautiful game called soccer.