TRIBUTES have been paid to a young footballer who has tragically died at the age of 20.
Stefan Mauger from Wester Ross passed away after a courageous five-year battle with cancer.
Stefan Mauger sadly passed away after a battle with cancer[/caption]
He was captain of his youth team at under-17s[/caption]
Lochbroom FC said Stefan was “a warrior both on the pitch and off”.
Devastated mum Mum Gina: “We are truly heartbroken to share with you, our darling Stefan passed away on Saturday the 11th of January aged 20.
“Stefan battled for five years against cancer and we feel absolutely devastated and lost.”
The club said in a Facebook post: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Stefan Mauger.
“Stefan was a warrior both on the pitch and off. He was the captain and a rock in defence of the Ullapool FC Under-17 team which competed in the Scottish Youth Highland League. He managed a couple of appearances in a Lochbroom top too. A true leader and an even better person.
“Everyone at the club sends Chris, Gina, Vanessa and all the extended family our love and you are in our thoughts.”
Stefan’s team in Ullapool had been supporting him since his diagnosis in 2020.
After he lost his hair following chemotherapy for a rare form of bone cancer, many team members and others in the Ullapool football community got buzz cuts to show their solidarity.
This turned into a fundraiser which raised thousands for the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity chosen by Stefan.
Stefan died on Saturday January 11 and his funeral will take place at The Church of Scotland, Ullapool, on Tuesday January 21 at 1pm, followed by burial at Morefield Cemetery.
“If you wish, wear a touch of red for Stefan,” said the family.
The Lewis & Harris Youth Football Association also said on its Facebook page: “The LHYFA would like to pass on our sincere condolences to the Mauger family after the very sad passing of Stefan. Our sympathy also goes out to the football community around Ullapool.”
They wrote about how only a few years ago members of the local Lewis and Harris teams had played with Stefan and his team mates on a regular basis in the Ullapool Under-17/18 team.
They said: “Our lads look back fondly on the time they spent with Stefan’s Ullapool crew.”
Stefan also wore a Lewis and Harris YFA shirt along with teammate Shaun in June 2019, when they played with the LHYFA in an Under 15 Highlands and Islands festival in Dingwall.
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