Zambia international Enock Mwepu who plays for Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion has been forced to retire after being diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition.
Mwepu, 24, fell ill while on a flight to link up with his Zambia team-mates in the international break last month and returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests after a period in hospital in Mali.
A statement from Brighton on Monday morning revealed that Mwepu would have an extremely high risk of suffering a “fatal cardiac arrest” should he continue playing competitive football.
“Some dreams however come to an end, so it is with sadness that I announce the need to hang up by boots because of the medical advice I have received. This is not the end of my involvement in football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity.”
“We are all absolutely devastated for Enock,” said Brighton chairman Tony Bloom. “He and his family have had a traumatic few weeks and while we are just thankful he has come through that period, he has seen such a promising career cut short at such a young age.
“As a club we will give him all the love, help and support we possibly can to make a full recovery, and then as he decides on the next steps in his life.”
Mwepu played in all six of Brighton’s Premier League games this season before the September international break and played 27 times for the club since joining from Red Bull Salzburg in July 2021.
He also scored six goals in 23 appearances for the Zambian national team.
The Court of Appeal in Makurdi, Benue State, on Thursday dismissed an appeal filed by…
Big Brother Naija Season 7 winner, Josephine Ijeoma Otabor, also known as Phyna, has publicly…
Nigerian singer Yemi Alade has criticized prominent media outlets Cool FM and Clout Africa, accusing…
Senator Adamu Aliero, representing Kebbi Central, has announced that the Nigerian military successfully expelled the…
The Supreme Court has struck down the National Lottery Act of 2005, ruling that the…
As Nigerians express their frustrations over the recent fuel price hikes by the Nigerian National…