Mascot memories
Gas blast victim is special match day guest
Hamilton Accies have made a new young fan in Pakistan gas blast victim Sudais Ameen Asif.
The four-year-old was the special mascot for the Premiership club’s match at home to St Johnstone on Saturday. And although Accies lost 2-1, Sudais had a great day that he will remember for a long time, according to his adoptive father Mohammad Asif. Mr Asif said: “Sudais enjoyed it, it was very good. I have never seen him happier than that day. “He was dancing, running and was very happy, it was very good. “The only thing is that he is scared of loud noise, so he couldn’t go right out on to the pitch, but he really enjoyed the day .” Mr Asif continued: “It was an amazing day for us all; we got a tour of the stadium, into the police control room, into the dressing room – we went nearly everywhere. “It was a shame that Hamilton lost but it was a good day and it meant a lot to Sudais. I’ve never seen him running around that much, he ran the length of the pitch at one point. “I’m very happy that Hamilton gave him the opportunity – and they said we’re welcome any time, so once Sudais is settled down a bit more we will go again.” Hamilton Accies media liaison man Marcus Nash said: “It was brilliant, fantastic for his family and for the club. We always say we’re more than just a football club and that was a small example of what we do here.
“Our chief executive Colin Mcgowan was standing outside the stadium with a scarf to greet the family. I don’t know another football club where that would happen.
“Sudais was smiling and running about and made some very happy memories. It was great to see him smile. He is welcome here any time – Mohammad just needs to give me a call and we’ll get it arranged.”
Little Sudais was aged just two months in December 2013 when a gas explosion in Peshawar claimed the lives of his father Mohammad Ameen (30), mother Sumaira (28) and his 13-month-old brother Abdul Haseeb.
He was taken to Glasgow by his uncle Mohammad Asif and Positive Action in Housing in February 2014, with Mohammad legally adopting him as his son.
Sudais suffered third-degree burns in the explosion, has undergone extensive life-saving surgery and faces many more operations down the line.
Mohammad is a campaigner for human rights and social justice, is chair of Scottish Afghan Society and manages the charity ‘Scotland’s Child – Sudais Ameen Asif ’.
Sudais enjoyed it. He was dancing, running and was very happy. It was very good