AFC Asian Cup: Tajikistan boss hails star striker cheering on team in Qatar following cancer diagnosis
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Tajikistan head coach Petar Segrt said talismanic striker Manuchekhr Dzhalilov’s presence in Qatar despite serious illness was providing a “big motivation” for his squad.
The national team’s record scorer, Dzhalilov was diagnosed with cancer in September last year and underwent treatment in Moscow.
Despite that, the 33-year-old was well enough to join his teammates, including younger brother Alisher, in their camp for Tajikistan’s debut AFC Asian Cup finals appearance this month.
Segrt’s side drew their opening game with China, following an accomplished performance, shorn only of the cutting edge Dzhalilov would have provided upfront.
But football concerns were cast aside when Segrt talked about his stricken player following the goalless draw at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium.
“The past months, we were helping Manuchekhr with his cancer,” Segart told the Post. “It was not a discussion about playing football, it was a discussion about whether he lived or died.
