Brighton's Mwepu Forced to Retire Due to a Heart Condition

Zambian international, Enock Mwepu, has tragically had to end his football playing career after tests revealed a dangerous hereditary heart condition.

The condition can worsen over time and would leave Mwepu at risk of a potentially fatal cardiac event should he have chosen to extend his playing career.

The player was taken ill whilst joining up with the Zambian side last week.  Mwepu was hospitalised for four days in Mali before being flown back to Brighton. He underwent further scans at the club's medical facilities where the condition was first diagnosed. He was immediately advised that he should end his playing career.

Brighton's Head of Medicine and Performance, Adam Brett, commented, "It is a terrible blow for Enock but he has to put his health and his family first and this is the right choice, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves."

Head Coach Roberto De Zerbi added that before joining the club Mwepu "was a player I was so excited and looking forward to working with."

Aged just 24, Mwepu was considered a valuable squad member and a fantastic prospect for the future.

The midfielder's strike in a famous 2-2 draw against Liverpool won Brighton's Men's Goal of the Season last year.  After receiving a pass outside the 18-yard area his curling strike looped over goalkeeper Allison into the far corner. It was also the player's first Premier League goal.

Mwepu had played a total of 170 games at club level, and was capped 23 times by Zambia.

In a statement on Twitter, he described himself as "a boy from a small Zambian township called Chambishi", thanked "the grace of God" for allowing him to achieve his dream of playing in the Premier League, and emphasised that he plans to stay involved in football in some capacity. The full statement can be read here.

President Hichilema has responded to the news with a statement: "Thank you @EnockMwepu45 for pushing the boundaries for Zambian football. We wish you good health and God's blessings in your next chapter."

Whilst the health of professional footballers has always been a key priority for medical staff, awareness of such issues has become even greater since Christian Eriksen suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest during the 2021 European Championship. Whilst Eriksen is back on the football pitch, he describes the continuation of his career as a "miracle".

Image: via Getty Images