Mali Says Goodbye To 'Black Panther' Salif Keita
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 07, 2023 | 01:20 AM
Bamako, Sept 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Sep, 2023 ) :Mali paid a final, moving tribute in Bamako on Wednesday to African football legend and "monument man" Salif Keita who died at the weekend at the age of 76.
Hundreds of people, including former teammates and Mali Prime Minister Choguel Kokalla Ma�ga, flocked to his funeral at the Place du Cinquantenaire, on the banks of the Niger River.
There they said goodbye to the man who in 1970 became the first winner of the African Ballon d'Or.
"He gave everything to Mali -- as a player, coach, minister. His football academy produced geniuses for Mali," said Idrissa Ma�ga, a friend and former club and national teammate. "Go in peace." Keita made his debut for Mali at just 16 and went on to play 28 times for his country. He was part of the Mali squad which finished second in the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
Giant pictures of him were posted and his remains were draped in the green, yellow and red flag of the country.
Delegations came from neighbouring Senegal, Ivory Coast and Guinea as well as from France where Keita played for Saint-Etienne and Marseille.
"Salif Keita is a monument, he took nothing lightly, and each Mali-Guinea match was a challenge for him," said former Guinea international Cherif Souleymane.
Keita retired in 1980 after a successful club career in France. While at Saint-Etienne he won the French league title three times and the French Cup twice.
"The Black Panther has left us, taking a part of our club with him," Saint-Etienne said in a statement on social media.
After leaving Saint-Etienne, Keita joined Marseille and then moved to Valencia in Spain, and Sporting Lisbon in Portugal before ending his club career with New England Tea Men in the United States.
He also appeared in a movie, loosely inspired by his story, which was released in 1994.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Four terrorists involved in suicide attack on Chinese in Besham arrested
SIC chief asks PTI leaders to resign from assemblies
Pakistan working tirelessly to eradicate polio from country: PM
IHC Justice Sattar dismisses pleas moved by FIA, PEMRA and PTA in audio leaks ca ..
Gillespie, Kirsten feature in 48th edition of PCB Podcast
Security forces kill four terrorists in Tank
Fake immoral video of Ducky Bhai's wife goes on viral on social media
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 29 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 29 April 2024
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 28 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 28 April 2024
Fresh wave of rainfall in AJK continues for the second consecutive day
More Stories From Miscellaneous
-
Stage Drama Mohabati Manhoon presents in Arts council Larkana
19 hours ago -
Wheat farmers in a fix on price, procurement mechanism
1 day ago -
Modern tools to help transform crime investigation procedures
1 day ago -
Sanam Marvi captivates audience with mesmerizing performance
2 days ago -
Modern Education Techniques: A pathway to achieve economic development
3 days ago -
Kite Flying: From cultural festival to deadly sport
3 days ago
-
PDMA predicts gusty wind, rain with thunder, hails
6 days ago -
Iranian president Raisi given guard of honour at PM House
7 days ago -
Intellectuals, writers accolades Naseer Mirza on his literary contribution
8 days ago -
Bahawalpur Adabi Sangat hosts memorable mushaira
8 days ago -
Cattle farming vital to alleviate poverty in rural areas
8 days ago -
Pakistan: A land of tourism, archeological wonders
8 days ago