Aopi was inspirational, family, friends say

 FORMER PNG under-20 soccer representative, the late Chuckstan Aopi, was described as an inspiration during his funeral service at the Sione Kami Memorial Church in Port Moresby yesterday.

Aopi, 20, of mixed parentage of Milne Bay and New Ireland, passed away last Sunday at the Port Moresby General Hospital after battling leukemia.

In his eulogy, Aopi’s third-born brother Nathan said Aopi left behind a gap that was hard for him and his siblings to fill.

He said his brother was his dad and mum’s favourite.

“He was loyal and had respect for our parents and this is something we have learned and would cherish,” he said.

Aopi was a promising soccer player in his club and at the national level but his career was cut short after his suffered an ankle injury when playing a game in the Port Moresby Soccer Association in 2013.

The injury made him undergo an ankle operation but after that he started to get sick. 

At first he was diagnosed with an enlarged spleen but last year it was discovered that he had leukemia, which he eventually succumbed to last Sunday.

Aopi made his debut playing at the senior level in 2011 with Yamaros Football Club, which was founded by his dad Charles in 2006.

With his scoring skills, he was instrumental in taking the club to their grand final appearances from 2011-2013. 

At the national level, he played for the Under-20 side in 2013 in Fiji but the ankle injury cut short his career. 

One of his last wishes was to sit for his Grade 10 examinations  at Kopkop College in Gerehu. 

His classmate last year, Connie Tuvui, said one of the memories they would treasure was his way of writing. Aopi had a very small hand writing which teachers found hard to identify which made his classmates laugh, Tuvui said.

She said Aopi was someone who was an inspiration to others and was   fun and charming to be around with.