Shahid Afridi, Ali Zafar announce support for kickboxer who works at tea stall

World kickboxing champion Agha Kaleem — who works at a local tea stall making parathas (fried bread) — was recently promised support by former Pakistan skipper Shahid Afridi and musician Ali Zafar.

Kaleem has failed to gather sponsors to support his profession despite his spectacular achievements and numerous medals.

Taking to Twitter, the Quetta-born athlete shared a video with Ali, in which the singer affirms his support for the kickboxing champion.

Calling Kaleem a “fighter” and a “champion”, Ali pledged his support for the athlete and said: “Pakistan needs heroes like you.”

Similarly, Afridi reshared a video of Kaleem on the microblogging platform in which the latter can be seen making parathas.

Afridi too declared that he would support Kaleem.

“We are fully ready to take this responsibility and help you reach milestones in your career inshaAllah. Please reach out to @SAFoundationN and @megastarsleague that has been created for this purpose — I have alerted both teams. They will connect you to the tools you need.”

Recently, Geo Super did an exclusive interview with Kaleem in which the kickboxer shared his plight and grievances.

“I have been the all-Karachi champion 10 times, Wushu champion three times, Muay Thai champion twice and national champion three times,” Kaleem said.

Recounting his success at the Asian Nomad MMA Championship in Kazakhstan in October last year, he said that he needed money to visit the host country.

“I work at a tea stall, how was I to afford the Rs300,000 trip? No one in the country was willing to support me, it was someone from outside that helped me,” he said.

He further shared that he had spent 4 days at the airport, subsiding only on water, almonds and dates.

“I ended up being late and they put in the category above my own. I still knocked him out in 20 seconds.”

Kaleem further lamented that despite his achievements, he had no support and was forced to work at the tea stall.

“I’ve been to four international competitions since, what am I supposed to do — keep asking for money?”

Kaleem shared that it was embarrassing to constantly have to ask people to sport him. “It feels like begging.”

However, the kickboxer shared that the feeling of pride he had when he won those competitions and raising Pakistan’s flag is what keeps him going.