KUALA LUMPUR: Two-time Olympian Ahmad Fadzil Zainal is asking for financial assistance to undergo a heart operation.
He went for a check-up at Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) recently and discovered that he had three blocked heart vessels.
Fadzil then underwent angioplasty, but it was not successful.
Now he needs RM40,000 for a bypass operation. Fadzil had approached Yayasan Kebajikan Atlet Kebangsaan (Yakeb) for help and they could only provide RM20,000.
“I did approach Yakeb but was informed they could only assist to the maximum of RM20,000,” said Fadzil.
“I am unemployed and do not have the money to undergo the operation. And I also look after my aged father as well.
“These are tough times and I appeal to friends and fans out there to help me cover my expenses for the operation.”
Fadzil represented the country for 14 years, from 1978 to 1992, keeping goal at the 1982 Bombay World Cup, 1984 Los Angles and 1992 Barcelona Olympics as well as three Asian Games in 1982, 1986 and 1990.
Capped 196 times, he played for Malaysia in four Sea Games. Fadzil does not receive any pension as he was working for a subsidiary of Perak SEDC and this further complicated matters.
He hopes the Sports Ministry, National Sports Council, Yayasan Hoki Malaysia, Malaysian Hockey Confederation, Perak State Government and Perak Hockey Association will help him overcome the cost of his operation.
“For the time being, I am on medication until the operation can be done but that depends on my ability to pay the cost,” said Fadzil.
A group of friends and former hockey players will be having a meeting soon to look into his plight.