LISBON, Portugal — An Indonesian who as a child survived the 2004 earthquake-tsunami that hit his country and was found wearing a Portugal soccer jersey is joining Sporting Lisbon’s training academy.
Martunis, a 17-year-old who goes by a single name, said at a club gala late Thursday that being at Sporting was "a dream come true."
He was discovered alone several weeks after his mother was killed and his home was destroyed in the disaster that killed more than 200,000 people. His father survived.
He captured public sympathy in Portugal because of the national team jersey he was wearing. The Portuguese Football Federation donated 40,000 euros ($44,000) to his family and brought him to a Portugal game in Europe.
Sporting officials were not immediately available to provide further details.