Former RailHawks U-23, Wolfpack soccer alum Farouk Bseiso dies

Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network
Peter Koutroumpis, Triangle Sports Network

CARY, N.C. – Before the Carolina RailHawks kicked off against the Indy Eleven at WakeMed Soccer Park on Saturday, they held a moment of silence for former organization player Farouk Bseiso.

The former member of the RailHawks’ 2011 USASA U-23 championship team, and N.C. State Wolfpack soccer captain, died on Thursday due to carbon monoxide poisoning while on vacation with family according to the news posted on Finnish soccer clubs FC Espoo and FC Viikingit websites.

Bseiso, a six-foot, 180-pound, defensive midfielder was signed with FC Espoo and was on loan to Viikingit in 2014, as per his profile listed on SoccerWay.

He started four of the five games he played with Viikingit and scored his first goal with them in a June 14th game against FC Jippo.

He was expected to return back to play with Espoo by the end of July.

In hearing of his passing, and similar to the RailHawks pregame ceremony and the team’s wearing of black armbands, Viikingit and Espoo releases indicated that they will also hold a moment of silence and wear commemorative bands to remember Bseiso by.

A Raleigh native, Bseiso had a lasting impact with the professional organizations he was a part of here and abroad following his collegiate playing career at N.C. State (2008-2011).

“By all accounts, a fantastic young man,” RailHawks president Curt Johnson said.

In the final statement in the teams’ releases, Espoo Viikingit also recognized the 24-year old’s lasting memory accordingly:

“If all men were like Farouk, the world would be the perfect place. Farouk, you are in our thoughts, always.”