811 DAYS AFTER suffering a near-fatal gunshot wound, Salvador Cabanas has continued his miraculous recovery by stepping back onto a football pitch.
In the early morning of January 2010, the striker, playing with Mexican side Club America at the time, got into an altercation in a nightclub during a free day before being attacked by a well-known drug dealer in the bathroom.
Advertisement
The 2007 South American Footballer of the Year was then rushed to Angeles del Pedregal hospital where he was placed in intensive care. Incredibly, doctors believed removing the bullet from his cranium would be fatal so opted to leave it in there.
After countless hours of rehabilitation, the 31-year-old, who has 44 caps for Paraguay and was certain to play for them in the 2010 World Cup, appeared in a friendly last August but on Saturday made his first competitive start for third division outfit Club 12 de Octubre.
Cabanas completed 40 minutes for the club he started his professional career with before being withdrawn in their 2-0 opening day win.
Nobody survives what happened to me,” he said on Soccernet.espn.go.com. “That’s why I always appreciate all the people who prayed for me and also the president of Doce (Club 12 de Octubre) who’s let me be with them.
Having faith was fundamental for me. That’s why I’m here right now.”
Cabanas in action against Argentina's Fernando Gago (left) and Sebastian Dominguez during a World Cup qualifier in 2009. Credit: Cesar Olmedo/AP/Press Association Images
Paraguayan footballer makes his competitive return two years after being shot in the head
811 DAYS AFTER suffering a near-fatal gunshot wound, Salvador Cabanas has continued his miraculous recovery by stepping back onto a football pitch.
In the early morning of January 2010, the striker, playing with Mexican side Club America at the time, got into an altercation in a nightclub during a free day before being attacked by a well-known drug dealer in the bathroom.
The 2007 South American Footballer of the Year was then rushed to Angeles del Pedregal hospital where he was placed in intensive care. Incredibly, doctors believed removing the bullet from his cranium would be fatal so opted to leave it in there.
After countless hours of rehabilitation, the 31-year-old, who has 44 caps for Paraguay and was certain to play for them in the 2010 World Cup, appeared in a friendly last August but on Saturday made his first competitive start for third division outfit Club 12 de Octubre.
Cabanas completed 40 minutes for the club he started his professional career with before being withdrawn in their 2-0 opening day win.
Nobody survives what happened to me,” he said on Soccernet.espn.go.com. “That’s why I always appreciate all the people who prayed for me and also the president of Doce (Club 12 de Octubre) who’s let me be with them.
YouTube credit: abctvparaguay
El-Hadji Diouf arrested and Anton Ferdinand questioned after nightclub brawl
Friends reunited: Mancini hints that prodigal son Tevez may stay with City
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Club America Comeback Salvador Cabanas Paraguay World Cup 2010