Teen soccer star dies on field during match
By Edith Bevin
July 02, 2007 12:00am
HE was tipped to be Australia's next international soccer star – but Ohmeer Hamide's family were yesterday struggling to understand why the 17-year-old collapsed and died during a game.
Fans, including Ohmeer's father, watched in horror as the talented Sydney United left-winger dropped to the ground at Edensor Park about 10 minutes into Saturday's game against Dulwich Hill.
Five ambulance crews were unable to revive the soccer player and he was pronounced dead from a suspected heart attack at Fairfield Hospital.
Ohmeer had shown no signs of serious illness or any hint of a heart condition.
His father Kahled Hamide yesterday told of his horror at watching his "best friend" dying in front of him.
"I saw him when he collapsed," Mr Hamide, who had encouraged his son to take up the game nine years ago, said.
"He took the ball and he ran and then we saw him collapse.
"The referee stopped the game and I ran on to the field – he couldn't breathe.
"We called the ambulance straight away. Five ambulances came but...
"Nobody believes what's happened. Still now I can't believe that he's dead."
Sydney United youth league co-ordinator Tiho Bacic said Ohmeer was due to travel to England and Ireland next month to be coached by some of the best trainers from top sides Liverpool, Chelsea, Charlton and Everton.
Mr Bacic said Ohmeer's skill would also have made it very likely that he would have attracted the attention of UK talent scouts.
Ohmeer was picked up by Sydney United scouts three years ago while playing for a smaller club.
"It is a big loss to football in Australia to have such a talented young player taken away," Mr Bacic said.
"He had the drive and the potential to represent Australia. We were actually taking a couple of squads over to Ireland and England in September/October and he was going with them."
The Hamides' grief was intensified yesterday when they were told Ohmeer's body would not be released by Westmead Morgue in time to perform funeral rites that the Muslim faith dictates must be held within 24 hours of death.
By Edith Bevin
July 02, 2007 12:00am
HE was tipped to be Australia's next international soccer star – but Ohmeer Hamide's family were yesterday struggling to understand why the 17-year-old collapsed and died during a game.
Fans, including Ohmeer's father, watched in horror as the talented Sydney United left-winger dropped to the ground at Edensor Park about 10 minutes into Saturday's game against Dulwich Hill.
Five ambulance crews were unable to revive the soccer player and he was pronounced dead from a suspected heart attack at Fairfield Hospital.
Ohmeer had shown no signs of serious illness or any hint of a heart condition.
His father Kahled Hamide yesterday told of his horror at watching his "best friend" dying in front of him.
"I saw him when he collapsed," Mr Hamide, who had encouraged his son to take up the game nine years ago, said.
"He took the ball and he ran and then we saw him collapse.
"The referee stopped the game and I ran on to the field – he couldn't breathe.
"We called the ambulance straight away. Five ambulances came but...
"Nobody believes what's happened. Still now I can't believe that he's dead."
Sydney United youth league co-ordinator Tiho Bacic said Ohmeer was due to travel to England and Ireland next month to be coached by some of the best trainers from top sides Liverpool, Chelsea, Charlton and Everton.
Mr Bacic said Ohmeer's skill would also have made it very likely that he would have attracted the attention of UK talent scouts.
Ohmeer was picked up by Sydney United scouts three years ago while playing for a smaller club.
"It is a big loss to football in Australia to have such a talented young player taken away," Mr Bacic said.
"He had the drive and the potential to represent Australia. We were actually taking a couple of squads over to Ireland and England in September/October and he was going with them."
The Hamides' grief was intensified yesterday when they were told Ohmeer's body would not be released by Westmead Morgue in time to perform funeral rites that the Muslim faith dictates must be held within 24 hours of death.
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