Afghanistan: Footballer dies after falling from packed US military plane in Kabul

Published on: 20 August 2021
Afghanistan: Footballer dies after falling from packed US military plane in Kabul
Zaki Anwari

A young footballer Zaki Anwari has died after desperately attempting to flee the country on a US military plane.

The 19-year-old fell off the clif of the plane shown in a viral social media video where more than 600 people were crammed into a C-17 Globemaster Three, with several others chasing as it run off the tarmac.

He was a member of the Afghan junior National Team and held dreams of playing for one of the biggest clubs in the world one day.

In a statement, the General Director of Physical Education and Sports confirmed the footballer's death:"a player of the national youth football team was among the hundreds who tried to leave the country by climbing on US military plane," he said. "Anwari fell and died."

The former youth team player, in his final Facebook post, said: "You're the painter of your life. Don't give the paint brush to anyone else."

Many Afghans are desperate to leave the country with Taliban forces taking over the capital, Kabul.

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