Former national wheelchair basketball athlete living in dire straits

NIBONG TEBAL: Muhammad Jafni Abdul Aziz was once a national wheelchair basketball player who made the country proud in the para-sports arena, but now he has to rely on people’s aid to cope with daily life.

Jafni, 31, who lives with his younger brother, Abu Dzar, 29, in a dilapidated village house, currently only receives monthly assistance of RM400 from the Social Security Organisation.

The orphan said he represented the country from 2015 to 2017, but after that, was no longer selected in the National Wheelchair Basketball team.

“An accident in 2013 has left me disabled, but I did not give up in life and was successfully selected to represent the national team in wheelchair basketball.

He said, however, life became quite difficult after he was no longer selected in the national team as his spinal cord problem’s worsened, and he lost his sense of taste.

Jafni's best achievement was helping the national Wheelchair Basketball team win the silver medal in the Asean Para Games in Singapore in 2015.

The former athlete who played in the central defensive position, said his wheelchair had also broken recently, making him immobile.

“I couldn’t afford to replace the damaged wheelchair, and my mobility even indoors, became very limited,” he said.

Jafni's plight caught the attention of Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who went down to visit the athlete and presented the latter with a new wheelchair.

Reezal said he had also approved an application to prepare a bedroom, kitchen and a three-wheeled motorcycle to help Jafni lead a better life.

"God willing ... with the approval of the application, it is hoped to be able to help ease the burden and challenges faced by Jafni," he said.

-- BERNAMA