The Philippine Football Federation (PFF) and its officials join the football community in mourning the loss of former Philippines Under-19 National Team player Kieth Absalon, who passed away this Sunday morning, 06 June 2021.
News reports stated that Absalon, together with some relatives, were victims of a roadside explosion in Barangay Anas, Masbate City while biking.
A fleet footed player, Absalon played for Far Eastern University-Diliman Baby Tamaraws where he was part of the team that won numerous UAAP Juniors Football Tournament, culminating with a Most Valuable Player award in 2016.
His talents at the high school and collegiate level did not go unnoticed. In 2018, Absalon was called up to represent the Philippines in the AFF U-19 Championship which was held in Surabaya, Indonesia. As part of the youth national team, Absalon was already in the first step of rising through the ranks from the youth level to junior and senior level.
PFF officials expressed their condolences and sympathies to the family of Kieth Absalon, and will provide financial assistance to his bereaved family.
“It is heartbreaking to see a promising player’s future in Kieth Absalon cut short due to a terrible incident” said PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr. “We pray that his soul rest in peace.”
“As one of the national youth team players privileged to have represented the country, it pains us to see Kieth miss out on what could have been an even brighter future for him,” added PFF general secretary Atty. Edwin Gastanes. “May he rest in peace and his bereaved family be blessed with courage in their time of sadness.”
The PFF requests the sports-loving and football community to pray for the repose of the soul of Kieth Absalon and God’s grant of strength to his family.
