Doctors trying to save the life of footballer Salvador Cabanas say
the Paraguayan has begun to move his extremities - a sign that he
has brain function after being shot in the head in a Mexico City
bar.
Dr. Enrique Martinez told reporters late Thursday that
Cabanas' condition had slowly begun to improve and brain swelling
had gone down.
Cabanas, who was shot just before dawn on Monday, plays for
Mexican club America and is also a top scorer on the Paraguay
national team, which will play in the World Cup in South Africa
this year.
"He's begun to move constantly," Martinez said. "He's moving
his extremities, and these voluntary movements are very good
because it has to do with brain function."
"Salvador continues in a delicate stage, but his life signs
are better and the brain swelling has begun to do down."
On Thursday the newspapers 'Record' and 'Reforma', quoting
records they said came from prosecutor's documents, said a
bar-cleaning employee testified the shooting took place after
Cabanas got into an argument with the prime suspect in the case.
That suspect, identified as Jose J. Balderas Garza, has
reportedly not been detained. He was identified on bar's
surveillance cameras.
According to the newspapers, Balderas Garza told Cabanas he
had not been scoring enough goals with America. Cabanas was
reportedly put off by the comments, and the shooting in the
bathroom followed.
The office of Mexico City Attorney General Miguel Angel
Mancera would not confirm or deny the report when questioned by The
AP.
Cabanas' agent, Jose Maria Gonzalez, was critical police had
not arrested the suspect.
"As long as they don't find this individual, we can't feel
safe in Mexico," he said.
Hours after the shooting on Monday, surgeons attempted to
remove a bullet lodged in Cabanas' skull but decided the operation
was too risky.
Cabanas has played in Mexico since 2003 and has scored 125
goals in 218 matches. He also has scored 10 for the Paraguay
national team and was expected to lead the team when the World Cup
opens in June in South Africa.
Earlier this month he attracted the attention of Sunderland
manager Steve Bruce, who expressed interest in bringing Cabanas to
the English Premier League club. Reports suggested the deal didn't
go through because America's asking price was too high.
