Enock Mwepu: Brighton player forced to retire from football, aged just 24

Enock Mwepu has been tragically forced to retire from football at the age of just 24 years old following a recent medical diagnosis.

The Zambian has been diagnosed with a hereditary heart condition which has forced him to prematurely hang up his boots.

It has been deemed that the condition he suffers with will likely worsen over time, which in turn would put him at an extremely high risk of suffering a fatal cardiac arrest if he continued his professional career.

Tragically, as quick as his career has got going, it has ended, with him playing a key role for Brighton this season, featuring six times as The Seagulls sit seventh in the table despite losing Graham Potter.

Obviously, the main thing is that his condition has been diagnosed, effectively saving his life, it’s just a shame that such a promising career has come to an end so early, just after he was starting to make a name for himself in the biggest league in the world, the Premier League.

After falling ill whilst joining up with his national team, he was admitted to hospital in Mali, before returning to Brighton to undergo further tests, which in turn discovered the condition. It wasn’t previously evident on the cardiac screening, with the disease rearing its head later in life, with sport likely to exacerbate the illness.

Club Chairman, Tony Bloom, said: “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.”

Manager, Roberto De Zerbi, added: “I