MALAPPURAM: C. Jabir, 50, former national football player and Circle Inspector of Malabar Special Police (MSP), who was killed in a road mishap on Sunday night, was given a tearful farewell by thousands at his native place Therattammal, Areecode, on Monday. The accident occurred when his car collided with a truck on NH 966 near Kondotty around 11 p.m., the police said. He was returning to Malappuram from Kozhikode after visiting a relative in a hospital. Jabir died on the spot and his brother-in-law, who was with him, escaped unhurt.
After the autopsy at Manjeri Government Medical College, the body was brought to the MSP headquarters here on Monday and later taken to the Theratammal football stadium to enable his colleagues and public to pay their homage. Several footballers and Jabir’s co-players, including former Indian skipper I.M. Vijayan, Kurikesh Mathew and U.Sharafali were present. Jabir is survived by his wife Naseera Jabir and three children.
The funeral was held at Therattamal Juma Masjid at 4 p.m. A condolence meeting was also held there. Jabir was one of the key midfielders of Kerala police team when they won the Federation Cup for the first time in 1990. Later, he was selected to the Kerala team and played in six Santhosh Trophy tournaments, besides several international matches for India, including Nehru Cup of 1996. He was also active with the football training for the budding talents at Therattammal, his home turf.
