Zambian Midfielder Enock Mwepu Retires At 24

By Samuel Ouma Zambian ace Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire from playing football following the diagnosis of a hereditary heart condition. Announcing his retirement, his club, Brighton & Hove Albion FC of England, said, “the condition would put him at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event if he were to continue playing competitive football”. “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,” said the club’s chairman Tony Bloom. Head coach Roberto De Zerbi added, “I am so sorry for Enock. Before I arrived, I looked at the squad, and he was a player I was so excited about and looking forward to working with. We will do everything we can to help him." According to Head of Medicine and Performance Adam Brett, It is a terrible blow for Enock, but he has to put his health and his family first, however difficult it is to quit the game he loves. The midfielder was taken ill while on a flight to join up with Zambia during the international break. After a period in a hospital in Mali, he returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests and ongoing care. Brighton signed Enock from Red Bull Salzburg for around £18m in July 2021. He made 27 appearances for the club.