A Thai footballer died and a Malaysian player was injured when lightning struck a pitch during a semi-final match in Narathiwat.
PETALING JAYA: A Thai footballer was killed while a Malaysian player was among 12 others injured after lightning struck a football pitch during the FA Golok Cup football tournament at Santiphap Stadium in Sungai Golok, Narathiwat, on Tuesday afternoon.
Sungai Golok Police Chief Col Thun Sirikhunt said the incident occurred at about 5pm local time during heavy rain, when the match continued before lightning suddenly struck the middle of the pitch.
“The incident left more than nine individuals injured, while a Thai national, Sofwan Awae, 24, a Yala FC player, died,” Bernama reported.
Thun said the Malaysian player injured in the incident was identified as Mohamad Alif Ezzahan Zulkifli, 22.
He said police received an emergency call at about 5.30pm and rushed to the scene, where they found Sofwan in critical condition.
“Although the emergency medical team made every effort to save him, the victim succumbed to severe injuries sustained in the incident,” he said.
All injured victims were taken to Sungai Golok Hospital for treatment, while police continued investigations into the incident.
The New Straits Times (NST) reported that the incident occurred during the semi-final match of the regional Golok FA Cup tournament at Santiphap Stadium.
The match was between Abu x Nong Sirin and SAMCOLT, a mixed team comprising Thai and Malaysian players. NST also reported that the tournament featured other Malaysian teams, including Kelantan FC.
Sungai Golok is located near the border between Thailand and Malaysia’s Kelantan state.
NST reported that Alif was playing for SAMCOLT in the tournament.
According to Thai Enquirer, Sofwan was playing for Abu x Nong Sirin, although there were conflicting reports regarding the team he represented.
The publication reported that Sofwan was a winger for Yala FC, had previously played for Pattani FC and had signed with Yala FC only days before the incident.
Following Sofwan’s death, Yala FC and the Football Association of Thailand expressed their condolences.
“The association joins in mourning this loss and offers its condolences to the family, those involved and the football club during this time of sorrow,” the football association said in a statement on Tuesday.
