Thoughts About Sport

A Tribute to Muamba

The World of football came together on the 17th March 2012 when he collapsed on the pitch when he played for Bolton Wanderers against Tottenham. The game was being televised live, as millions witnessed him suffering a cardiac arrest half-way through the FA Cup quarter-final. Today, he announced that he will be retiring from professional football.

After the cardiac arrest saw players from both teams reduced to tears on the pitch, the World prayed for the humble football star, as a worldwide trend, #Pray4Muamba, hit Twitter. Football fans and players from all across the globe came together to show their support for Fabrice.

Although his heart actually stopped for 78 minutes, he then made a miraculous recovery in a matter of weeks and was then released from hospital – hoping that one day he’d return to the pitch. But that dream came to an end for this week.

Fabrice said, “As part of my on-going recovery, last week I travelled to Belgium to seek further medical advice from a leading cardiologist. But the news I received was obviously not what I had hoped it would be and it means I am now announcing my retirement from professional football.” He then went on to gratefully say that “While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for.”

I’m sure everybody would have loved to see Muamba put his boots on once again, but with something so serious shouldn’t be pushed.

Muamba made 33 appearances for the England U21 side and 24 appearances between U16-U19’s. This promising young player had a great future in the beautiful game and I’m sure everybody is just as devastated as he is. But that being said; he is one of the few premier league players who are so humble and grateful for what they have.

Although we’ll no longer see him on the playing field, I’m sure it won’t be the last we see of this truly inspiring star. Here’s to you, Fabrice Muamba.