Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 7) – The Philippine football community grieves over the sudden passing of 21-year-old rising football star Kieth Absalon.
The Philippine Football Federation promised to provide financial assistance to the family of Absalon, who along with his cousin, was killed on Sunday after a bomb exploded while they were biking in Barangay Anas, Masbate City.
“It is heartbreaking to see a promising player’s future in Kieth Absalon cut short due to a painful incident,” said PFF president Mariano Araneta, Jr. “We pray for the eternal repose of his soul.”
Absalon played for the national team in the 2018 ASEAN Football Federation Under-19 Youth Championship held in Indonesia.
Far Eastern University, where Absalon spent his high school and college years, also mourned the death of the Masbateño football star.
“Kieth’s toughness on the field and constant smiles off it will truly be missed by his brothers in the men’s football team and the entire FEU community,” the university said in a statement.
During his UAAP high school career, Absalon won several Midfielder of the Year awards and was hailed as the league’s Most Valuable Player in Season 78. He also won six titles in the said high school league, the most for any player in the UAAP high school competition history.
Absalon was supposed to make his college debut in UAAP Season 82, but the season got cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Bobae Park, the head coach of the FEU Diliman football team, lamented the missed opportunity to talk to Absalon prior to his passing.
“I should (have) told you that you were the best talent I have ever seen when we could have a chat face to face, I’ve never expected that I will regret about this. (It) was a blessing to handle you and being with you as a coach and also as your kuya,” Park said in an emotional message in his social media post.
Malaya FC, the club where Absalon played in the Youth Football League, paid tribute to the ethics shown by their fallen player on and off the pitch. He took home the MVP award in the league in 2019.
“(He was) a born leader, always motivating and inspiring his U-19 teammates even at their lowest during their games. (He was) also a follower of the highest order, always willing and able to take on any position assigned to him by his coaches and perform his best,” the club’s statement reads. “And off the pitch, a kind, gentle, respectful young man who always said ‘mano po’ to the Malaya FC parents and elders.”
