Curacao GK Jairzinho Pieter Dies Before Nations League Game

Jairzinho Pieter, a 31-year-old backup goalkeeper for the national team of the Caribbean island of Curacao, has died ahead of a match.

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Jairzinho Pieter, a backup goalkeeper for the national team of the Caribbean island of Curacao, has died ahead of a match. He was 31.

Concacaf, the soccer confederation for the region, said Pieter died on Monday at his team's hotel in Port-au-Prince where Curacao plays Haiti on Tuesday.

Concacaf says Curacao will go ahead with the Nations League match against Haiti ''following consultation with the players.''

Concacaf Statement
🗞https://t.co/kV2UdhLFwQ

Declaración de Concacaf
🗞https://t.co/AhRsVI6OYH pic.twitter.com/JzPVICg4Xe

— Concacaf (@Concacaf) September 10, 2019

RIP Jarzinho Pieter #22 🙏🏾🇨🇼 pic.twitter.com/FU7k6dFdd1

— Eloy Room (@EloyRoom) September 9, 2019

Deeply shocked to learn about the passing of Curacao’s goalkeeper Jairzinho Pieter, an extraordinary homegrown player. Our thoughts and condolences to his family, teammates and the FFK pic.twitter.com/Ezw7fEOkie

— Victor Montagliani (@VicMontagliani) September 10, 2019

Starting goalkeeper Eloy Room, who plays club soccer in the United States for the Columbus Crew, posted a video of the Curacao squad paying tribute to Pieter.