Remembering a hero: Sumaila Abdallah receives FIFA Fair play award after saving Charles Taylor’s life

Former Dawu Youngsters goalkeeper, Sumaila Abdallah received a Fair Play Award from FIFA in November 2001 for a heroic act in a local game.

During a clash between Hearts of Oak and Dawu Youngsters in an FA semi-final game, Charles Taylor, a local legend, fell heavily to the ground whilst attempting the spectacular.

Taylor collapse and without the quick intervention of Sumaila, fans would have seen the last of Charles.

Mr Ibrahim Saanie Daara, who was with Choice FM at the time, described the incident in detail.

“With no one realising the imminent danger Taylor was facing, Abdallah, who was in the post for the opposing team, tried all he could shouting on top of his voice to draw the attention of the medical team to the danger facing Taylor,” he said.

“While the medical team took time to reach the dying player, Abdallah started giving Taylor a mouth to mouth resuscitation. This timely intervention revived Taylor before the medical team attended to him,” he added.

Abdallah is the only Ghanaian to have received an award from FIFA and his the second African to achieve that feat after George Weah took home the Ballon D’or in 1995.