Fabrice Muamba: A true fighter on and off the field

Players react as Bolton Wanderers’ Fabrice Muamba is resuscitated just before he was taken off the field during their FA Cup quarter-final match against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane in London

Bolton Wanderers, in the Premier League back then, quickly showed an interest in the young midfielder, and Muamba ended up signing for Bolton for £5m. This was where Muamba played his best football, leading to comparisons with Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira. The comparisons were understandable, although some would say premature and irrational. Like Vieira, Muamba was a tough-tackling midfielder with boundless energy to run up and down the pitch. Muamba would have without doubt loved to emulate Vieira’s career but unfortunately, it was not to be.

After going through all the turmoil that he had in his early life, he would’ve been forgiven to think that all his troubles were behind him. But the worst was yet to come. It was 17th March, 2012, and the venue was White Hart Lane, Tottenham Hotspur’s home ground. It was the FA Cup quarter-final between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers.

During the first-half of the match, Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed on the pitch. After receiving lengthy attention on the pitch from medical personnel, Muamba was taken to the specialist care centre at the London Chest Hospital. Bolton’s club doctor later confirmed that Muamba had received numerous defibrillator shocks both on the pitch and in the ambulance, as his heart had stopped for 78 minutes. The player was kept under anaesthetic in intensive care initially.

Within a couple of days, his heart was beating without medication and his condition slowly started improving. He was able to recognize his family members and started responding appropriately to questions asked. By 21 March, Muamba’s consultant stated that Muamba’s progress had “exceeded our expectations” and that although he faced a “lengthy recovery period”, “normal life was within the spectrum of possibility.”

While that raised hope that Muamba would be able to resume his playing career very soon, the hopes were unfortunately unfulfilled. On 15^th August 2012, Muamba announced his retirement from professional football based on the advice of his medical team. Following his announcement, he said: “Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I have remained utterly positive in the belief I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again. 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. Football has been my life since I was a teenage boy and it has given me so many opportunities. Above all else, I love the game and count myself very lucky to have been able to play at the highest level. While the news is devastating, I have much to be thankful for. I thank God that I am alive and I pay tribute once again to the members of the medical team who never gave up on me. I would also like to thank everyone who has supported me throughout my career, and the Bolton fans who have been incredible. I am blessed to have the support of my family and friends at this time.”

Such incidents provide a perspective on sport and help us in seeing the larger picture. Muamba could well have lost his life while playing a game of football that he so loves, and that thought alone sends shivers down my spine. Muamba has had a tumultuous life which makes us forget that he is still only 26. One can only hope that the next phase of his life is a lot more peaceful and hassle free.