The former Paraguayan international made his much-awaited return despite still having a bullet lodged into his skull.
Only two years after he was shot in the head at point-blank range at a Mexico City bar, former Paraguayan international Salvador Cabanas returned to the soccer field, with third-division club 12 de Octubre, from his native town of Itaugua.
The striker started the friendly match from the kick-off, before 12 de Octubre coach Rolando Chilavert replaced him in the 15th minute.
"My dream has come true," stated Cabanas, before stepping onto the field in Itaugua, 30km east of Paraguayan capital Asuncion. "Last night I couldn't sleep because I was anxious about returning to play."
Cabanas, 31, will officially become a player of 12 de Octubre once the club come to an agreement with his last club, Club America, over his signing.
The striker had been playing for America, Mexico's wealthiest club, when he was shot on January 25, 2010, but after a two-year lay-off, was given permission to play by his doctors, even if a bullet fragment still remains in his skull.
Cabanas barely touched the ball for the duration of the time he was on the field. But the out of shape striker promises that in the coming weeks he will be in good shape to help his new team.
"I have to start from scratch to be in good physical shape. This is the team whom I love because here I had my youth career and in 1998 when I was 15 years old I played in the first division," the former scoring-machine recalled.
No matter how he performs, the fact that Cabanas was able to return to the soccer field is already a miracle.
The striker started the friendly match from the kick-off, before 12 de Octubre coach Rolando Chilavert replaced him in the 15th minute.
"My dream has come true," stated Cabanas, before stepping onto the field in Itaugua, 30km east of Paraguayan capital Asuncion. "Last night I couldn't sleep because I was anxious about returning to play."
Cabanas, 31, will officially become a player of 12 de Octubre once the club come to an agreement with his last club, Club America, over his signing.
The striker had been playing for America, Mexico's wealthiest club, when he was shot on January 25, 2010, but after a two-year lay-off, was given permission to play by his doctors, even if a bullet fragment still remains in his skull.
Cabanas barely touched the ball for the duration of the time he was on the field. But the out of shape striker promises that in the coming weeks he will be in good shape to help his new team.
"I have to start from scratch to be in good physical shape. This is the team whom I love because here I had my youth career and in 1998 when I was 15 years old I played in the first division," the former scoring-machine recalled.
No matter how he performs, the fact that Cabanas was able to return to the soccer field is already a miracle.
