Brighton and Hove Albion have announced terrible news that 24-year-old Zambia international, Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire from football due to a hereditary heart condition. He moved to Brighton just last summer but has to now end his short-lived career.
Mwepu Retires:
Mwepu was taken ill while on a flight to link up with the Zambia squad during the last break in domestic action, leading to him spending time in hospital before returning to Brighton to undergo cardiac tests.
Tests have shown that Mwepu suffers from a hereditary cardiac issue which manifests itself later in life and can not always be spotted in regular heart screening. As playing sport can make the condition worse, the tough decision to bring his professional career to a close has been taken.
Mwepu released a statement of his own, thanking those who helped him achieve his dream: “A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share,” he began.
“He stood strong to follow his dream of playing football at the highest level, and by the grace of God he lived his dream by reaching the Premier League. Some dreams however come to an end, so it is with sadness that I announce the need to hang up my boots because of the medical advice I have received.”
“This is however not the end of my involvement with football, I plan to stay involved in some capacity. I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone that supported me in my football journey, including my wife and family, my agent 12MAN, the Zambian FA, all my previous clubs, team-mates and coaches, and specially everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion.”
Mwepu hopes to continue his career in football and we hope to see him very soon with a new role in the sport.
