8 Facts about Kurnia Meiga, Formerly Touted as the Best Goalkeeper in Indonesia - Now Burdened with Debt and Selling Rengginang

Kapanlagi.com - Former Indonesian national team goalkeeper, Kurnia Meiga, has recently been in the public eye due to his drastically different fate compared to his illustrious career. In addition, his marriage to Azhiera Adzka Fathir has also been revealed to have ended a year ago. Here are some other facts about Kurnia Meiga.

1. Touted as the Best Goalkeeper of the National Team

Kurnia Meiga. (c) Bola.com/M Iqbal Ichsan

Kurnia Meiga is a goalkeeper for Arema Club and the Indonesian national team. It can be said that he is a successful player. He was once named the best player in the Indonesian Super League 2009-2010.

According to detik.com, the Indonesian League has been held since 1994. Until now, there have been dozens of football players who have been named the best player. However, Meiga is the only goalkeeper among them.

Throughout his career, Kurnia Meiga has also received various other awards such as Best AFF Goalkeeper 2016, AFF Championship Best XI 2016, and ASEAN Federation Best XI 2017.

2. His Brother, Also a Goalkeeper, Passed Away in 2017

Achmad Kurniawan (c) Bola.com/Iwan Setiawan

At Arema club, Kurnia Meiga was once the second goalkeeper after his brother, Achmad Kurniawan. Yes, his brother was also a goalkeeper. Achmad Kurniawan passed away on January 10, 2017.

The 37-year-old man initially suffered a heart attack and then went into a coma on December 29, 2016. He underwent intensive treatment and passed away at Saiful Anwar Hospital in Malang, East Java.

3. Falling Ill, Suspected of Having Papilledema

Kurnia Meiga (c) Bola.net/Fitri Apriani

According to Tirto.id, at 01:00 AM in early August 2017, Kurnia Meiga suddenly vomited. In the morning, his eyes started to feel closed and he felt nauseous.

Quoting from various sources, the disease suffered by Kurnia Meiga is strongly suspected to be Papilledema. As reported by alodokter.com, Papilledema is the swelling of the optic nerve in the eye due to brain pressure.

This has an impact on vision function. Furthermore, brain hemorrhage and stroke can occur. Additional symptoms of Papilledema include nausea and headaches.

4. Decide to Retire and Sell Rengginang

Kurnia Meiga (Credit: TikTok/kurniameiga_1)

Since suffering from Papilledema, Kurnia Meiga has decided to retire. His declining vision does not allow him to compete again. He is known to have started selling various football attributes to make a living.

Not only that, Kurnia Meiga also sells on TikTok. He sells jerseys, emping, and rengginang with salty and shrimp paste flavor. He has also collaborated with several content creators.

5. Received Assistance for Fried Chicken Business

Kurnia Meiga. (c) Bola.com/Abdul Aziz

According to Bola.com, Kurnia Meiga received assistance in the form of a Magu Magu Chicken franchise business in July 2023. The assistance was provided by the PSSI.

"Since the beginning, I wanted to offer the opportunity to start a business. However, I need to learn. The easiest way is through the Magu Magu Chicken franchise, which already has 5000 carts and 100 outlets. It means a product that has a success story," said Erick Thohir in a press conference.

Previously, the PSSI also provided medical assistance to Kurnia Meiga. The assistance was given in the form of eye treatment for the Indonesian national team goalkeeper from 2013-2017.

6. Divorced by His Wife

Kurnia Meiga (Credit: instagram.com/egahermansyah)

Last Tuesday (5/3), his wife, Azhiera Adzka Fathir, announced that she and Kurnia Meiga have divorced. "I have permission to convey this. Indeed, I have been managing this account since we separated in February last year," she wrote.

Furthermore, Azhiera is reluctant to reveal the specific cause of their divorce but she mentioned that there was a fatal incident.

"When I was six months pregnant with our third child, there was a fatal incident that forced us to separate after giving birth," Azhiera revealed.

"I cannot expose the faults of my ex-husband because I am taking care of our young children," she added.

7. Burdened with Debt

Kurnia Meiga (Credit: TikTok/kurniameiga_1)

Still according to Azhiera's post, it turns out that Kurnia Meiga is burdened with debt. He decided to manage Kurnia Meiga's Instagram account.

"My goal in managing this IG is to help Meiga and myself pay off the debts that we have because we have been in debt since my ex-husband fell ill. The debts were used for medical and non-medical treatment as well as our living expenses," Azhiera wrote.

8. Promised Stem Cell Therapy

Kurnia Meiga (Credit: instagram.com/egahermansyah)

Various efforts have been made by Kurnia Meiga to recover. Last October 2023, he admitted that he will undergo stem cell therapy.

"Yesterday, I was invited by Ms. Grace (Grace Tahir, director of Mayapada Hospital), she said there will be stem cell injections," said Meiga in an interview with Deddy Corbuzier.

"His disease is said to affect the nerves. This therapy is only for stimulation. However, we still don't know the schedule," he added.

(kpl/tdr)