Search on for ex-footballer living on the streets

PETALING JAYA: The National Athletes Welfare Foundation (Yakeb) is trying to locate a former national footballer from Penang who reportedly sleeps on walkways whenever he is in Kuala Lumpur to seek medical treatment.

Yakeb general manager Zuhairi Abdul Manaf told FMT the organisation was helping him for some time but had lost contact with him.

Zuhairi was reacting to a recent Mingguan Malaysia report about the national defender, who is now in his 40s. The report, which did not give the footballer’s name, said he could not afford accommodation in Kuala Lumpur.

It said his heart condition, for which he seeks treatment at the National Heart Institute, made it difficult for him to hold down a job.

Zuhairi said Yakeb was not aware that he needed more assistance than the organisation had been giving him.

“Prior to this, he sought our help for medical expenses and we did help him,” he said. “We’re trying to locate him to better understand his present situation.

“We tried contacting him at his usual number, but could not reach him. I am told the Football Association of Malaysia is also trying to find him.”

Zuhairi also said Yakeb was in need of a steady stream of money and would soon be launching a permanent fund to draw contributions from members of the public who are concerned about the welfare of retired sporting heroes.

Yakeb provides athletes who have represented the country at least once at the SEA Games with a yearly amount of RM20,000 for inpatient treatment and RM2,500 for outpatient treatment.

“We allow them to decide if they want public or private healthcare, but the assistance is limited to the set amounts,” he said.

Yakeb has nearly 3,000 former athletes registered with it. According to Zuhairi, it needs about RM3 million a year for healthcare financing.

He said the government had, for the past decade, been giving the organisation a one-off payment every year upon request, but not always the full amount requested.

“We’ve yet to receive the funds for this year, but discussions with the government are going well and things look positive. We also understand the government’s financial position.

“We also get funds from corporations and individuals, but it depends on the economy. If the economy is slow, then the contributions are harder to come by.”

Zuhairi said he hoped that Yakeb would in future receive fixed allocations from the government and more funding from business corporations.

He said he understood that businesses had commercial interests when sponsoring athletes, but hoped they would also contribute towards the welfare of those who are retired.

“The sad reality is that athletes are popular only when they are winning,” he added. - FMT