Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu has announced his sudden retirement from football following the diagnosis of a hereditary heart condition.
Mwepu is 24 years old.
Metro Sports reported that Mwepu was unwell before joining the Zambian national team during the recent international break and spent time in a Malian hospital.
He subsequently returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests – the result of the tests confirmed a cardiac condition.
The Zambian international announced the abrupt end of his playing career in an emotional statement on Twitter on Monday morning.
“A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share. 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,” Mwepu wrote. “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.”
But the footballer declared that his health predicament would not be “the end of my involvement with football.
“I plan to stay involved in some capacity,” added Mwepu.
Meanwhile, the football community has expressed its support for the former Salzburg player.
Brighton promised to keep assisting the player in getting through the situation.
“We will be helping him make sure the condition is managed with the appropriate treatment for him to otherwise live a long and healthy life,” said the club’s head of medicine and performance, Adam Brett.
Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi added, “I am so sorry for Enock. Before I arrived I looked at all the squad, and he was a player I was so excited and looking forward to working with. We will do everything we can to help him.”
Premier League clubs, including Arsenal, Manchester City and his former club Salzburg, Legon Cities FC of Ghana, have all sent their best wishes to the player.
