Is the comma needed?

[Tan Elaine]

A goalkeeper, who was part of the national team, Ali was playing football at the National Stadium when he jumped for the crossbar of the goalpost and hung on to it - only for the goalpost to collapse on him.

Is the comma after "goalkeeper" needed?

Thanks.

 

[GoesStation]

No. It's incorrect.

 

[andrewg927]

Part of the national team, goalkeeper Ali was playing football at the National Stadium when he jumped for the crossbar of the goalpost and hung on to it - only to have the goalpost collapse on him.

 

[Tan Elaine]

Part of the national team, goalkeeper Ali was playing football at the National Stadium when he jumped for the crossbar of the goalpost and hung on to it - only to have the goalpost collapse on him.

Thanks, andrew. You have rephrased my sentence. Can I conclude that the original sentence is awkward?

 

[andrewg927]

Yes, your original sentence was awkward and incorrect.

 

[GoesStation]

To me, the only thing wrong with the original sentence was the comma after "goalkeeper".

 

[Rover_KE]

It would be the crossbar that collapsed on him ... maybe a goalpost as well, but not before the crossbar gave way first.