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Brighton Midfielder Enock Mwepu Forced To Retire At 24 With Health Condition
Brighton midfielder Enock Mwepu has been forced to retire at 24 after being diagnosed with hereditary heart condition.
Mwepu was taken ill while on a flight to join up with the Zambia squad during the recent international break.
After a period in hospital in Mali he returned to Brighton to undergo further cardiac tests.
“These tests have concluded that his illness is due to a hereditary cardiac condition, which manifests later in life and was not previously evident on regular cardiac screening,” read a club statement, released by Brighton on Monday.
“Sadly this can be exacerbated by playing sport so Enock has been advised that the only option, for the sake of his own safety, is for him to stop playing football.”
The statement added: “The condition, which can worsen over time, would put Enock at an extremely high risk of suffering a potentially fatal cardiac event, if he were to continue playing competitive football.”
Brighton head coach Roberto De Zerbi expressed his sympathy for Mwepu, who only joined the Seagulls from Red Bull Salzburg in 2021.
“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,” said De Zerbi.
Brighton’s head of medicine and performance, Adam Brett, added: “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.”
“Of course, given this is Enock’s career and a decision which can’t be taken lightly we have taken our time to be as thorough as possible, completed advanced cardiac investigations and collaborated with clinical experts to gain the best second opinions for Enock,” added Brett.
“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.”
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