South American Dispatch: Cabañas’ Condition Critical But Stable - 7M sport

South American Dispatch: Cabañas’ Condition Critical But Stable

Posted Tuesday, January 26, 2010 by Goal.com

An ugly and all too common element of football west of the Atlantic Ocean reared its head again this week as Paraguayan striker Salvador Cabañas was gunned down in Mexico City.

The footballer who plays for Club America of Mexico is in a critical but stable condition after he was shot in the face in the restroom of a popular inner-city bar.

Cabañas was Paraguay’s leading marksman on the road to South Africa but after under going seven hours of emergency surgery following the shooting he is fighting for his life rather than a World Cup place.

The 29-year-old was out for the evening with his wife when the shooting took place. Dr. Ernesto Martinez who operated on the player said he was unable to remove the bullet from Cabañas’ brain.

“We would do more damage if we tried to extract it. We cannot be assured that he is out of danger. He is however young and healthy and that helps.”

Cabañas was visiting the restrooms in Big Bar, a popular high class hangout in Mexico City, when he was shot. The attack has already been commented on by Mexican President Felipe Calderon who has offered extra funds to the police investigation.

Attorney General Miguel Angel Mancera has visited the bar in the upscale neighbourhood of Mexico City and given his first impressions of the incident. Mancera said he did not believe the attack was part of robbery as no possessions were taken. Two security guards, the bar manager and Cabañas’ brother-in-law have been questioned by police.

Cabañas was an unused substitute at the 2006 World Cup but was set to play an important role in Paraguay’s attack in South Africa. His performances in qualifiers including his six goals were cruicial to Paraguay achieving a points record in the CONMEBOL series.

The striker has also averaged over a goal every two games during his time in Mexico with Chipas and Club America.

The Paraguayan Football Association have sent their own doctor to be with Cabañas and the country’s President Fernando Lugo has said the player will recieve all the support he needs.

For everyone wishing Cabañas well they can look for solice in the near fatal shooting of former Argentine international Fernando Caceres in Buenos Aires last November. Caceras was in a coma for over a month after he was shot in the head by a youth.

Earlier this month Caceras was released from hospital, he has lost the use of one eye and the bullet remains lodged in his head but it was the best result anyone could have wished for.

World Cup places still up for grabs says Maradona

Diego Maradona has told his band of domestic based talent to stand up and be counted against Costa Rica tonight. Argentina’s head coach has stated that there are still places up for grabs in his final 23 for the World Cup and that everyone is still in with a shot of a seat on the plane

“There are players with me here in San Juan for the Costa Rica game that are capable of playing in a World Cup. I have put together a list of 30 names which I must reduce to 23 before going back to South Africa. There are some players here that can make that final list.”

The former World Cup winner also reacted to criticism over the number of players he has called up during his time as Argentina’s head coach.

“They can say that I have called on a lot of players but you need to see them in action before making your mind up. You need to see how they react to the shirt, how they play within the team. Not everyone can reproduce their club form at international level.”

During a candid press conference Maradona told how much he missed his job during his two month FIFA ban for lewd comments.

“Those two months were very painful for me. I asked FIFA if I could just pay a big fine and not have to be away from my team. The money I was willing to pay FIFA to avoid the ban could have built football facilities all over Africa but they still preferred the two months.”

The former Napoli star also told the journalists gathered in San Juan about his recent trip to South Africa and how shocked he was by events in Angola.

“My thinking about football has changed in the past weeks after seeing what happened with Togo in the African Cup of Nations. I would like to take this opportunity to express my solidarity with the boys from Togo, it was an absolute tradegy what happened. Despite the attack on the Togo team I know Africa wants the World Cup and we were very well recieved in South Africa.”

Finally, Maradona spoke about the crisis engulfing the club closest to his heart, Boca Juniors. The national coach could only hold his hands up in bemusement like the rest of us when asked about the current state of Boca.

“The great asset that Boca always had was turning problems into strength on the field. To lose Basile and Bianchi in a week is tough but it is up to the players to take Boca back to the top. Players such as Riquelme, Palermo and Ibarra must get out there and make the difference.”

There are still those who wish Riquelme would get out there and make the difference for Maradona’s national selection.



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