Man with half a face is thankful for condition ... as it stops him starving

'Belssed' ... Ganesh believes God has made him deformed for a reason

A HOMELESS man thanks his shocking facial condition for being able to eat every day.

Ganesh Bhagat Chaurasia, 65, from Haridwar, northern India, suffers from a rare facial deformity that makes it difficult for him to work. 

Even worse, his family disowned him - cutting him out of his land inheritance 50 years ago.
But refusing to look on the bad side, Ganesh now thanks his disability for keeping him alive as sympathetic people often offer him money, shelter and food because of his condition. 

Tumour ... Ganesh suffers from a rare growth that has swamped his face

He said: “People are very kind and generous in India. I never ask for money but people voluntarily offer me things. This is the only way I survive now.” 

Ganesh was born with just a small lump on his face but as time passed it grew to an enormous size, covering his eyes and leaving him unable to work. 

He said: “My parents tried to get me some treatment; they spent thousands of rupees seeing doctors. In the end a Mumbai doctor did offer to operate on me but he said there was only a ten per cent chance of survival. It was just too risky, so they decided against it. 

“My parents always worried about my chances of getting married. And they died too young to help me make that happen. In the end I had nothing to offer a bride so I decided it was best not to marry.” 

Generosity ... Ganesh must survive on handouts from strangers

Ganesh was the son of an affluent farmer and was set to inherit 30 acres of profitable agricultural land in Champaran, Bihar, northern India, when his father died. 

But his uncle, along with some local officials, managed to claim ownership of the land and house, leaving then teenage Ganesh with nothing. 

He explained: “I tried to fight him in the courts but in the end I lost because I just didn’t know the right people. Let’s say my uncle was very well connected and in the end officials even used my facial condition as an excuse to stop me entering offices.” 

Ganesh managed to work as a mechanic for many years but in the end his facial condition left him unable to see clearly. 

Disinherited ... Ganesh was due to farm land that belonged to his father but his uncle now owns the plot

“My village folk hated being anywhere near me,” he said. “I know people don't like looking at me but I am not a bad person. I am a happy man, I make the most of what I have and I am the way I am. 

“I have a good head on me, I know many trades and I could’ve been a success, but I have faced problems getting on in life because of my appearance.” 

Ganesh now moves around small towns, sleeping in temples and eating where he can.
People give him around 200 rupees a day (£2.50), which he said is enough to survive on. 

“I wasn't comfortable taking money from people at first but then I thought that maybe God has made me this way and this is what’s meant to be for me,” he added. 

Bachelor ... Ganesh realises that his tragic condition means he will never marry

Ganesh is now a content man. He refuses to dwell on the negatives and believes he lives a good life compared to some. 

He said: “I am God’s creation. I am not bitter about my appearance. Some people call me a reincarnation of Ganesh, the Hindu God, while others see me as the devil. But I don’t want any pity. This is my life and I live it the best I can.” 

Dr Vivek Kumar, a plastic and cosmetic surgeon and consultant, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, in New Delhi, said Ganesh suffers from neurofibromatosis, meaning a large tumour has grown on his face.
He added: “This appears to potentially be a very treatable condition. But it would not be simple, and would require a specialist team of surgeons.” 

But Ganesh doesn't want to see any surgeon, he said the time has passed for operating tables, and will now continue to live as he always has done.

Big-Neym player is in no rush

STAYING PUT ... Neymar earns enough cash to keep him in Brazil

NEYMAR, the man tipped as the next Lionel Messi, will be the centre of attention at Wembley tomorrow.

The Brazilian is set to carry his nation’s hopes on home soil at next year’s World Cup — and Europe’s biggest clubs are queuing up to sign him. 

But Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid will have to wait — as the 20-year-old star is in no rush to quit Santos, where he already earns a stonking £11MILLION a year. 

A Brazil insider said: “Everyone knows that Neymar will stay in Brazil until the World Cup — but also that in 2014 he will probably leave for Barcelona or Madrid.” 

Santos pay 15 per cent of Neymar’s estimated monthly wage of £950,000. The other 85 per cent is paid by 12 high-profile sponsors. 

But the club have more than doubled their revenue by keeping hold of him. They ended 2011 with a £60.1m turnover, the fourth highest in Brazil. 

Neymar is used to bumper salaries — at the age of 16 he was pocketing £10,000 a month at Santos, more than 40 times the minimum monthly wage in Brazil. 

But his father, Neymar Snr, kept his son’s feet on the ground — only allowing the striker to splash out if he had played well!

Glitter critters

Shine on you crazy exoskeleton ... golden jewel beetle

THESE crazy creatures are not afraid to show their colours in stunning pictures shot in their natural habitats.

This gleaming golden bug just loves making an exhibition of itself.
Scratching about in Costa Rica, the jewel beetle shines with these other kaleidoscopic critters from around the world. 

Their names — hawk-headed parrot, blue poison dart frog, cuckoo wasp, lantern bug and Tiger’s treefrog — are equally colourful. 

Hawk-head . . parrot in Amazon

Buzzing ... Italian cuckoo wasp

Light work ... lantern bug in Malaysia

Hop star ... blue poison dart frog

Tigerish ... Colombian treefrog

Kelibat Rozaimi, Irfan menjadi tumpuan

IRFAN (tengah) dan Rozaimi (empat dari kiri) menjadi perhatian pegawai pencari bakat kelab Brisbane Roar.

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GOLD COAST, Australia - Aksi menentang Brisbane Roar hari ini bakal menjadi medan terbaik buat kapten Harimau Muda, Irfan Fazail dan Rozaiman Abdul Rahman untuk membuktikan keupayaan masing- masing.

Ini kerana Irfan dan Rozaimi yang meledak 10 gol pada kempen kelayakan Piala AFC Bawah 22 Tahun (B-22) sebelum ini dikatakan mendapat perhatian pegawai pencari bakat kelab terbabit, Brad Maloney.
Perlawanan menentang Brisbane Roar merupakan aksi terakhir Harimau Muda pada siri Jelajah Australia yang bermula penghujung Januari lalu.

Bekas penyerang import Sabah, Scott Ollerenshaw yang mengaturkan jelajah tersebut adalah antara individu yang bertanggungjawab mengenal pasti bakat kedua-dua pemain muda itu sebelum menjemput Malo- ney menyaksikan persembahan mereka dengan lebih dekat pada aksi menentang juara Liga Australia (Liga A), Brisbane Roar hari ini.

"Saya telah dibawa oleh Ollerenshaw yang telah mengaturkan perlawanan persahabatan Harimau Muda di Australia dan sudah tentu saya mahu mencari bakat-bakat baharu, dan beliau telah memberikan cadangan untuk menilai prestasi dua pemain terbabit.

"Sejujurnya saya sangat kagum dengan persembahan pemain-pemain Harimau Muda khususnya dari segi teknik, kepantasan, skil serta persefahaman, selain memiliki barisan jurulatih yang sangat profesional biarpun usia mereka masih muda," kata Maloney ketika menyaksikan sesi latihan Harimau Muda di Kompleks Sukan Carrara di sini semalam.

"Irfan dan Rozaimi ternyata menarik perhatian saya. Mereka memiliki teknik yang bagus, pantas dan sangat cepat menyesuaikan diri dengan corak permainan. 

"Saya fikir, gaya permainan mereka cukup matang. Mereka juga dilihat mampu menyerlah jika diberikan lebih banyak pendedahan.

"Kini, saya semakin teruja untuk menyaksikan persembahan mereka pada aksi esok (hari ini)," jelasnya.
Pada masa yang sama, beliau turut menyifatkan peluang kedua-dua pemain itu nampak cerah untuk beraksi dalam Liga A.

"Saya ingin menasihati Irfan dan Rozaimi agar bermain seperti biasa dan buat seperti apa yang mereka lakukan pada sesi latihan."

Rangka tulang disahkan milik Raja England

GAMBAR menunjukkan lubang kubur yang mengandungi rangka tulang Raja Richard III di Leicester.

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LEICESTER - Identiti satu rangka tulang yang ditemui di dalam tanah di sebuah tempat meletak kereta di sini telah disahkan para saintis sebagai Raja Richard III yang pernah memerintah England.

Para penyelidik dari Universiti Leicester mendapati keputusan ujian asid deoksiribonukleik (DNA) pada rangka tulang berusia 500 tahun itu sepadan dengan seorang keturunan adik perempuan raja tersebut.

Ujian DNA yang dibuat itu melibatkan seorang pembuat perabot yang dilahirkan di Kanada, Michael Ibsen.

Ibsen merupakan keturunan adik raja itu, Anne of York.

Kesan kecederaan yang didapati pada rangka tulang itu adalah akibat satu pertempuran.
Pengumuman itu dibuat oleh seorang pakar arkeologi, Richard Buckley pada satu sidang akhbar di universiti tersebut semalam.

Rangka tulang itu ditemui pada September 2012. 

Raja itu meninggal dunia dalam pertempuran Bosworth yang berlaku pada tahun 1485.
Mayat baginda kemudian diarak dalam keadaan bogel dan berlumuran darah dari medan pertempuran ke Leicester, tengah England sebelum dikebumikan di sebuah kubur tanpa batu nisan di Greyfriars di sini.

Menurut Buckley, rangka tulang tersebut akan dikebumikan di Gereja Leicester di sini. - Agensi