Following a genetic heart condition diagnosis, Brighton & Hove Albion FC’s Enock Mwepu was forced into early retirement. This, the English Premier League club confirmed on Monday.
Enock Mwepu forced into early retirement: Here’s what we know
As per Sky Sports, Mwepu fell ill just before he was set to join Zambia during the September 2022 international break. He underwent cardiac testing in Brighton after spending time in a Mali hospital.
The tests concluded that Mwepu’s illness was caused by a hereditary cardiac condition that manifests later in life and was not discovered during routine cardiac screening.
Taking to his Instagram, Mwepu announced it was time to bid farewell to the sport he loved so much.
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“Some dreams, however, have 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,” Mwepu wrote.
Adding to this, the midfielder mentioned that he would like to remain involved in the sport. He ended his emotional announcement by saying:
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported me in my football trip including my wife and family, my agent 12MAN, the Zambian FA, all my past team-mates and coaches, specially everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion.”
Unfortunately, engaging in physical activity can make this worse, so Enock has been told that the only course of action is to stop playing football for his safety. If Enock continued playing competitive football, his condition would put him at a very high risk of having a potentially fatal cardiac attack.
Before the recent international break, Mwepu played in all six of Brighton’s Premier League games. He has appeared 27 times for the team since signing from Red Bull Salzburg in July 2021. The midfielder made 23 appearances for the Zambian national team, scoring six goals in that time.
Mwepu started his career in his native Zambia before signing with Austrian club Red Bull Salzburg in 2017. In 2021, he switched to Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion on a four-year contract.
The public reacts to the news of Enock’s early retirement
Fans, fellow players and other soccer teams filled Mwepu’s comment section of his post with words of encouragement. Here’s what they had to say:
