PORT ANTONIO, Portland — Former Jamaica Under-17 footballer, Ovan Samuda, is dead. He was 23 years old.

The Jamaica Observer has learnt that Samuda died Saturday while undergoing treatment for brain cancer at the Princess Margaret Hospital in St Thomas.

President of the St Thomas FA, Wayne Thompson, in reacting to the news, said: "He was an inspiration to the Bath team from a tender age. He was loved by the community and this loss will impact the community significantly."

Samuda, who was said to be married to a Canadian in 2010 and migrated to that country last year, returned to Jamaica two months ago for treatment, but his condition got worst and he was hospitalised on Friday, and passed a day later.

Samuda, a graduate of St Thomas Technical High School, also had a short stint with Harbour View FC. The midfielder represented Jamaica at the Under-17 level from 2005 to 2007.