Kerala man, who was as soon as soccer sensation Maradona’s hairstylist, struggles to make ends meet

By Express News Service

KOCHI: From being a hairstylist of Argentinian soccer legend Diego Maradona to a pauper, the trajectory of Muhammed Anwar’s life has been on a decline, and it’s heartbreaking. Unable to land an everyday job, he has now been compelled to public sale the T-shirt signed by Maradona.

52-year-old Anwar was a sought-after hairstylist in Dubai the place he had been working with varied magnificence salons for the previous 20 years. 

“It was then that I got appointed as the hairstylist of the Al Wasl Football Club. I was the official hairstylist of Diego Maradona for the three years he stayed with the club as their coach,” mentioned Anwar. 

He says Maradona gifted him the T-shirt. “When he came to know about my son’s birthday, he asked me to get a T-shirt. He then proceeded to sign his name on it,” recollects  Anwar. After ending his life as an expatriate, Anwar returned dwelling with out colors, and his household didn’t give him a heat welcome. 

“I began working in various beauty salons in the city. That was before the pandemic struck. The lockdown led to the closure of the salons and I was left without any income,” mentioned Anwar who lives at a rented home at Maithiri Road, Thammanam. Even although the salons reopened after Covid restrictions had been eased, he couldn’t discover work. 

“He is not in his prime and has a sickly look,” mentioned Ratheesh H R, a well-wisher. “That is probably why none of the salons is ready to employ him,” mentioned Ratheesh, who received him a job at his crew facility administration centre. 

Anwar is planning to public sale the T-shirt on Wednesday or Thursday, mentioned Ratheesh. He is holding his fingers crossed and hopes to get worth for the T-shirt.

“With the money that I receive from the auction, I hope to set up a hair salon and thereby earn my keep,” added Anwar.