At the awards ceremony for the best footballer in Sweden, assigned to him by the Swedish Football Association, everyone had a chance to see Zlatan Ibrahimović’s other side.
Although sometimes uncompromising and grumpy at the field, the PSG’s striker showed that it is in fact a mask. Still, he never hid his attachment to family to which he owes his success. He was raised in the ghetto of refugees in Malmo, he didn’t used to see his father a lot, and grew up next to many relatives, brothers and sisters from his parents’ former marriages.
In April this year, his half-brother died after losing a battle with a long disease. Zlatan remembered him while he held his emotional speech at the ceremony organized by the Swedish football association and Aftonbladet.
Two footballers died this year in Sweden. Klas Ingesson, member of the national team which won the 3rd place at the WC in 1994 died of cancer just as the former goal keeper of Brommapojkarne Pontus Segerstorm. Zlatan’s half-brother died in similar circumstances.
“The awards prove I am doing something good but my achievements remain in the shadow of everything that happened to Ingesson and Segerstorm. I had a brother who died couple a months ago from a similar serious disease. Beside football, there is a life which is far more important. May they rest in peace…” – said Ibrahimović with tears in his eyes, followed by a strong reaction of the audience.
(Source: Oslobođenje)
