Raphael Dwamena has been playing with an implanted defibrillator for three years due to heart failure. But because things were not going so well in terms of the game after that and he was playing in the lower leagues in Switzerland after his stint with Austrian professional clubs, he made an important decision: “I don’t trust the technique anymore. I take all the risk on myself. If anything happens, it will be my own fault,” he said and the pacemaker was removed again.
Dwamena eventually moved to Albania, where things seemed favorable for him again. He played for KF Egnatia and played against league rivals Partizani on Saturday. But suddenly he fell on the grass and became unconscious. He was taken to the hospital, but the doctors there were no longer able to help him. A little later, the Albanian Football Association officially informed about the tragic death of the young footballer.
Raphael Dwamena played for Salzburg since 2014. He then moved to Lustenau in the second division. After further stints in Switzerland and Spain, the Ghanaian played for Blau-Weiss Linz in the 2021/22 season. In October 2021 he collapsed on the field in the Cup Round 16 game between Blau-Weiss and TSV Hartberg, but was soon able to leave the hospital again. And thanks to the defibrillator, he continued playing.
