Ball games - Mr. Bisad holds a record for his hand span

Cardiff , Wales, October 28, 2006 – Young footballers will have to reach a long way to receive their medals when they are being presented by one of the world's tallest men.

Hussein Bisad who stands at about 7ft 9in (2.36m) is making a special appearance at the Somali Integration Society event in Cardiff.

Mr. Bisad who is reported to weigh 33 stone (210kg) and wears size 26 shoes is from Somalia but lives in London.

He stands taller than a phone box and has to sleep in a 9ft (2.74m) bed.

Ibrahim Harbi from the Somali Integration Society which is organizing the five-a-side football event for 11-19-year-olds said: "He's been to Cardiff before, he likes it here and he is really supportive of the work we are doing.

"When he heard about the event he was happy to come along to support.

"He really is a huge man - you should see his hands!

"We're putting on the tournament as part of the Eid celebrations and he is going to present the young people with gifts after the tournament.

"I don't know if he will stay and watch the whole tournament because if he is there people's attention focuses on him and not the games.

"Wherever he goes he attracts attention."

Hussein Bisad has to get his clothes specially made

In 2002, the Guinness World Records recorded him as having the biggest hand span of any living man.

The tallest living man record is currently held by China's Xi Shun who is 7ft 8.95in tall.

Mr. Bisad, who has a medical condition known as Giantism which causes excessive growth, came to the UK as an asylum seeker after robbers shot him in the knee in Somalia.

He traveled by lorry to Ethiopia before getting on a plane to the UK, where airline staff had to allocate him two seats.

The Home Office has now given him permission to stay in Britain indefinitely because he is deemed a legitimate asylum seeker.

The world's tallest ever man was American Robert Wadlow, who died in 1940, at 8ft 11ins.

The football tournament is held on Saturday at 1400 BST at the Leisure League Arena in Curran Road.

Source: BBC News