Connect with us

Sports

Heart condition forces Zambian midfielder, Enock Mwepu, to retire from football at 24

Published

on

Enterprising Zambian midfielder, Enock Mwepu who plies his trade with Brighton & Hoves Albion in the English Premier League, has been forced to retire from active football at just 24 after he was diagnosed of a hereditary heart condition.

Brighton which announced the news on its official website on Monday, said the Zambian star fell ill during the last international break and tests revealed he had very serious cardiac condition.

The tests, according to the club, showed that Mwepu suffers from a hereditary cardiac issue which manifests itself later in life and can not always be spotted in regular heart screening.

The Seagulls added that the £20 million record signing Mwepu’s condition “could have worsen over time” putting him as “extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event, if he were to continue playing competitive football,” hence the decision for him to retire.

Club chairman, Tony Bloom, also wrote on the website:

“We are all absolutely devastated for Enock. 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 has taken the decision of the club and doctors with calmness, and released a statement thanking those who helped him achieve his dream of playing football.

“A boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi has some news to share,” he wrote.

“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.”

The midfielder moved to England from Red Bull Salzburg in 2021 and fearured 27 times for the Seagulls, scoring three goals.

Sports

Tragedy as coach killed, players injured in Sierra Leone club bus crash

Published

on

One of the coaches of Sierra Leonean club, Port Authority FC, Lamine Bangoura, a former international, has been confirmed killed while several players sustained different degrees of injuries after the team bus was involved in an accident on Tuesday night when going for a football game.

According to a statement from the club management, the players and officials of the top flight clubside are still reeling from the effect of the accident.

A local media which reported on the devastating accident on Wednesday said:

“The Sierra Leonean football is in mourning. On Tuesday evening, the Port Authority FC bus was involved in an accident. Several first team players are injured and in critical condition after this tragedy.

“The worst was the death of the Port Authority FC coach, Lamine Bangoura, who did not survive after receiving a serious blow during the accident.

“The team was en route to Kenema for a crucial match against Kahunla Rangers when tragedy struck, leaving several members in critical condition.

“The accident, which occurred at Konta Line, has claimed the life of the former Sierra Leone international and team coach, Lamine Bangura.

“Lamine Bangura was a highly revered figure in Sierra Leonean football and leaves behind a legacy that transcends the sport.

“Despite the best efforts of medical personnel at Masiaka Hospital, Bangura succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind a void in Sierra Leonean football.”

The Sierra Leone Premier League Board, in a statement on Wednesday, expressed deep regret and sent condolences to the team.

“While details of the incident are still emerging, it has been confirmed that there were injuries sustained by individuals involved in the accident.

“Our immediate priority is the well-being and recovery of those affected by this unfortunate event,” the statement said.

Continue Reading

Sports

‘I stood up for my teammates’, Super Eagles’ Bright Osayi defends beating up pitch invader

Published

on

Super Eagles and Fernabache of Turkey defender, Bright Osayi-Samuel, has opened up on why he had to beat up a pitch invader in the wake of a brawl with some fans of Tranzonspor during a match in a Turkish Superlig.

The right-back had come under the spotlight when he was seen beating up a fan of Tranzonspor who had attempted to attack Fernabache players during the match last Sunday.

While many fans of the club had applauded Osayi-Samuel’s action, even going ahead to make a graffiti of the scene, others have condemned him and even went as far as demanding sanctions for him.

But while speaking to sports journalists on Monday in Morocco where the Eagles are currently preparing for a friendly match against Mali, the 25-year-old defender said he had to stand up for his teammates in self defence.

“The fans attacked the team, some had weapons on them, I had to defend my team, it was self defence, that’s what happened,” he said.

“My teammates suffered cuts and bruises, some were really scared, several others also joined me to try to defend the team.

“We found a way to win and avenge our only loss in the league to the same team after they beat us at our home in the first round,” he added.

Fans of Trabzonspor had invaded the pitch after title-chasing Fenerbache recorded a 3-2 win at away to keep up the pressure on league leaders Galatasaray, a defeat which angered the home fans and led to them invading the pitch.

But they met their match in the Super Eagles player who chased some and pounced on them heavily.

Continue Reading

EDITOR’S PICK

VenturesNow1 hour ago

Nigeria’s central bank raises interest rate to 24.75% amid soaring inflation

Governor Olayemi Cardoso of Nigeria’s central bank has announced that the bank has increased its monetary policy rate by 200...

VenturesNow2 hours ago

No plan to increase taxes, Nigeria’s revenue chief says

The head of Nigeria’s revenue agency, Zacch Adedeji, has reaffirmed that there is no plan for the introduction of new...

Metro3 hours ago

Tinubu vows justice for slain soldiers, bestows national honours on them during burial

President Bola Tinubu has once again reiterated that killers of 17 soldiers of the Nigerian Army in Delta State on...

VenturesNow19 hours ago

China, Zambia’s major creditor, cooperating on debt rework— Official

A spokesperson of Zambia’s foreign ministry has stated that one of its major creditors, China, has remained supportive of Zambia’s...

Sports19 hours ago

Tragedy as coach killed, players injured in Sierra Leone club bus crash

One of the coaches of Sierra Leonean club, Port Authority FC, Lamine Bangoura, a former international, has been confirmed killed...

Tech19 hours ago

Radisson Group targets 25 hotels in Morocco by 2030

The Radisson Hotel Group says it has set a goal of setting up 25 hotels in Morocco, which will expand...

Culture20 hours ago

Moroccans celebrate ‘special towncrier’ who works only during Ramadan

Moroccans have continued to celebrate a “special towncrier” otherwise known as “Nafar”, who works only during the Ramadan period. The...

Metro21 hours ago

Nigeria to begin seasonal reviews of oil firm’s plans on gas flaring

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Environment, Dr Iziaq Salako, has revealed that the government intends to begin seasonal reviews of...

Metro23 hours ago

US earmarks $10m concessional loan to Zambian enterprises

About 260 Small and Medium Scale enterprises in Zambia will benefit from $10 million concessional loans by the United States...

Strictly Personal1 day ago

Road deaths are symbolic of our national failure, By Tee Ngugi

“Killer roads claim 25 lives,” screamed the headline of the Daily Nation on March 18. Among this number were 11...

Trending