Brain-damaged Ajax player 'getting better'

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Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri, a 21-year-old soccer player from Eredivisie’s Ajax, has shown signs of improvement after having been unconscious for over a year, reported the Daily Mail on Tuesday.

“His neurological condition is better than a few months ago. Physically, it's hard, he does not move the body, just the head, but sometimes he gets out of bed to sit in his wheelchair. You can communicate with him,” said Nouri’s brother Abderrahim, according to Daily Mail.

Players paying tribute to Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri. /VCG Photo

In 2017 July, Nouri was playing in a pre-season friendly for Ajax against the Bundesliga’s Werder Bremen when he suddenly fell with no one touching him. After emergency treatment by medical staff, Nouri was taken to hospital where doctors confirmed that he suffered from brain damage brought on by cardiac arrest, according to Tencent Sports.

Though doctors were optimistic about a recovery at the beginning, Ajax confirmed that the young man’s career was over considering his condition.

Nouri’s situation has drawn wide attention in the soccer world. His former teammate Justin Kluivert chose No. 34 Jersey, the same number of Nouri in Netherlands’ young team, when he joined Roma in 2018 summer to pay tribute to his friend.

Fans join in wishing Nouri good luck. /VCG Photo

Amin Younes, another player from Ajax took the same move by picking No. 34 when he transferred to Napoli. Philippe Sandler, Nouri’s former teammate in the Dutch youth team, also decided to wear the same number at Manchester City, according to Tencent Sports.

Moreover, Ousmane Dembele from Barcelona, who has never played with Nouri, added “#NOURI 34” to his boots for the 2018-19 season to wish the stricken player good luck.

(Top picture: Abdelhak “Appie” Nouri from Ajax /VCG Photo)