A Roscommon football team is raising money in order to help repatriate one its members who passed away suddenly while visiting Belgium recently.
Roscommon United Football Club has set up a Gofundme page to raise €3,000 for the family of a beloved teammate and friend, Erik Klempar, who sadly passed away at the age of 36.
A friend Mr Kemplar, a father of seven, said he had attended the Europa Conference League football match between Gent and Istanbul Basaksehir on Thursday last before touring the city of Gent on Friday.
It is believed he suffered a sudden illness on Friday night/Saturday morning and sadly passed away at his accommodation.
Commenting this week, Chairperson Mike Ryan said: “Our dear friend and teammate Erik passed away on Saturday, March 11th. He was a husband and father to seven children including five boys and two girls, the youngest of which is only nine months old.
“Erik will be sadly missed by his family and friends in Roscommon town, including all of us at Roscommon United Football Club. We offer our sincere condolences to his wife and children as well as his family and many friends both here and in his native Slovakia”.
Mr Klempar moved to Roscommon in 2015 and was an integral part of the Roscommon United team since 2017, winning a Masters Cup last summer.
“He was the quiet man of the group, but he led by example in the way that he played football. We all feel lucky to call him our friend and to have shared the field with him,” the club said.
“This fundraiser will go towards the repatriation expenses back to his native Slovakia, and to assist the family financially after this profound loss”.
To donate, please Click HERE to visit the ‘Bring Erik Home’ Gofundme page.
