Pakistani Pele gets financial aid from Government

‘Pakistani Pele’ Abdul Ghafoor has been the recipient of financial aid from the Sindh Government after learning that former National star was unable to meet his medical expenses.

Amongst the illustrious history of Pakistani football, the name of Abdul Ghafoor stands out on top. The ex-midfielder was the Green-Shirts’ skipper for almost 11 years and is arguably the greatest player the country has ever produced.

According to his son, his father had been coveted by a plethora of sides in and around Asia but he turned them down, citing his devotion to his country as greater.

“He was mostly an all-rounder and had many offers to play for clubs in many countries including India, Russia, Saudi Arabia and China, but he turned them down in favour of playing in his country and for his country, and was a member of the famous Dhaka Mohammedan
Club in the former East Pakistan,” Abdul Ghani said.

His skills on the ball were legendry but sadly a brain hemorrhage that he suffered four years ago has limited him to his bed.  

Hearing his condition and the fact that he wasn’t being able to meet the necessary expenditure, the Sindh Minister for Sports announced a Rs 50,000 sum for the former Dhaka Mohammedan man, before presenting a Rs 100,000 cheque sent by the Sindh Governor.

Abdul Ghani welcomed the gesture but said that since the expenses on his father’s treatment were quite high, he remained unsure how much the money would able to help the 75-year-old.

“My father is a very proud man. It will kill him to learn that he is being treated like some charity case. I have been advised by friends and family to not even tell him that I am accepting this help. But his pension cannot cover all his expenses. The medicines
prescribed for him are very costly. Just one pill costs Rs120, not to mention the other things needed to care for a bedridden person. I am not sure how far this money will go,” he said.

Lastly, Abdul Ghani also added that Brazilian legend Pele had heard about his Pakistani counterpart and had expressed an interest in meeting with him.

“When the real Pele heard about him, he expressed his desire to meet his double.  But the two have yet to meet,” he added.

One of the true heroes of the Nation, the whole of Pakistan prays for the recovery of Abdul Ghafoor and hopes that he may be on his feet soon.

Short URL: https://www.newspakistan.pk/?p=8573

Posted by Shahrukh Sohail on Jan 9 2012. Filed under Pakistan, Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry