Cabanas to return to professional football with bullet in his head

Jan 20, 2012, 15:05 GMT

Mexico City - Former Paraguay striker Salvador Cabanas, who was shot in the head two years ago at a Mexico City bar, is set to return to professional football.

Cabanas, 31, who still has the bullet lodged in his head, signed a one-year contract with Paraguayan club 12 de Octubre, his family and club officials said Thursday.

Cabanas's wife Maria Alonso told Mexican media that the former player with the Mexican giant America is set to return to the club where he started playing as a child and where he turned professional.

'He's going to go little by little. We are very happy that they have given him this chance. Salvador always dreamt of returning to the pitch,' Alonso told the Mexican daily Reforma.

Luis Salinas, president of 12 de Octubre, confirmed the signing, effective Friday.

'Thank God the doctor discharged Salvador, and that is why he is returning to football,' he told Paraguayan daily ABC.

'I always told him that our gates would be open for him when he returned to football,' he said.

The club 12 de Octubre has its home in Itaugua, some 30 kilometres from Paraguayan capital Asuncion. Although it played in the top flight of Paraguayan football 1997-2009, it is now in the third category.

Cabanas was shot at a Mexico City bar on January 25, 2010, in an argument with his attacker. A suspect has since been arrested.

The striker was dropped from the Paraguay squad ahead of the 2010 World Cup. His life was at risk for months and his recovery was very slow, while doctors declined to remove the bullet lodged in his head for fear of causing him irreparable damage.

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