Sports
Dwamena, choose life over football!
This is not how a top striker may want to hang his boots and bid an untimely farewell to the beautiful game.
But sometimes, much as one may try to fight off the tempest in the most bravado of styles, nature also has its way of dealing with matters.
It may fair; it might be unfair. But that is nature.
So, it came to pass that one of the nation’s fine strikers – Raphael Dwamena, nearly three weeks ago, collapsed while in action for Blau-Weiß Linz in an Austrian Cup match against Hartberg FC.
The player reportedly clutched his chest in the opening half and slumped onto the turf – battling desperately for survival. Heartily, paramedics on duty salvaged the situation and he was whisked to the hospital for further attention. He survived the scare!
This is not the first time Dwamena had been hit by such a heart-related incident.
In 2019, the striker suffered a new heartbreaking setback to his career as Spanish club Zaragoza detected an unknown heart problem during a routine medical check.
Indeed, this is the third time Dwamena had faced serious health problems – with English side Brighton pulling out of a deal to sign the striker from Swiss side FC Zurich because he failed a medical earlier.
Indeed, he had to stop playing for a while because of the risk of suffering a heart attack.
In 2017, Dwamena’s desire to play in the English premiership fell through because of his heart problem. He had agreed on personal terms with the English Premier League side Brighton and Holves Albion after they had a bid, reported to be around 15m euros (£13.8m), accepted by his Swiss club.
Sadly, Brighton had no choice but to back out and wished Dwamena well, having realised his situation was grave.
This latest incident in Austria must be the strongest possible warning to the player to, perhaps, stay off the game lastingly before it becomes a day late and a dollar short.
Dwamena is said to have been advised to hang up his boots permanently, but after a year, he doggedly decided to throw caution to the wind. Now, a renewed warning has been thrown in.
“After what has happened, Raphael will have to seriously assess his future as a player. He has already realised all this,” Sporting Director of Blau-Weiß Linz, warned.
The former Ghana Red Bull Academy top goal-poacher was called into Black Stars’ 30-man squad for the 2017 African Cup of Nations but was dropped after the squad had been slashed.
Dwamena, however, made his international debut in June 2017 in an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ethiopia, where he scored a brace to mark the new era of youngsters being introduced into the national team. But just as he was being tipped to take over from legend scorer Asamoah Gyan, his heart issue popped up strongly – leaving the national selectors with a Hobson’s choice.
Much as we would have loved Dwamena to recover fully, dash to the field, pick a fine fettle of form and possibly make a triumphant return into the Black Stars, it is limpidly clear, destiny would not allow him any further as medical reports had suggested.
In March 2012, 24-year-old Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba announced his retirement from football, after he collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest during his club’s FA Cup quarter-final tie with Tottenham Hotspur.
After being discharged from the hospital, Muamba traveled to Belgium to have minor heart surgery, which was said to have been routine and had no bearing on whether the player would return to action.
But Muamba said he received advice during his time there, prompting his retirement.
“Since suffering my heart attack and being discharged from hospital, I had remained utterly positive in the belief that I could one day resume my playing career and play for Bolton Wanderers once again,” said Muamba in a statement.
“As part of my ongoing recovery, I traveled 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.”
Hope this would serve as timely advice for Dwamena.
Certainly, it was not the way he had envisaged to end his career, but sometimes, that is how hard and unfair life can be. It is a difficult decision to take, especially when the player believes he has lots of energy and football bottled up in his willing body.
Dwamena, it is over to you to choose life over death! Please, choose life – like Muamba did.
PlainTalk with John Vigah
A Ghana Premier League (GPL) thriller is anticipated at the Baba Yara Stadium tomorrow as Asante Kotoko welcome Medeama SC for their week 12 top-liner.
Fourth placed Kotoko sits two points below Medeama SC who are third on the log. Their position on the log further adds another layer to the fiercest battle expected to unfold.
Before their second round game last season, the two sides shared two wins apiece in their last four league meetings in Kumasi. However, Coach Abdul Karim Zito inflicted a 3-2 victory on the Yellow and Mauves side with former striker Albert Amoah grabbing all three goals.
Tomorrow, Amoah will not be in action and since his departure from the club, Coach Zito’s side have found the going tough in front of goal, a factor that could determine this game.
Kotoko go into tomorrow’s fixture on the back of losing their unbeaten run in 11 games after being beaten 2-1 by Basake Holy Stars on Wednesday in their outstanding Week 3 league fixture.
Before that clash, the University of Ghana Sports Stadium will today host the game between Hearts of Oak and Vision FC.
Hearts coach Mas-Ud Didi Dramani hopes his side will carry the day after two draws on the road while coach Nana Kweku Agyemang of Vision FC is also aiming to pick his first victory over the Phobians.
League leaders Aduana FC will trek to the Bibiani Dun’s Park to play as guests of Bibiani Gold Stars tomorrow while second placed Heart of Lions welcome Karela United to the Kpando Stadium.
At the Nana Fosu Gyeabour Park, Bechem United will welcome Hohoe United, Berekum Chelsea will face Samartex FC at the Golden City Park in Berekum while Basake Holy Stars will host Nations FC at the Ampian AAK II Sports Arena in Azulewanu.
In other games, Swedru All Blacks will host Young Apostles at the Swedru Stadium with Eleven Wonders chasing their first victory of the season against Dreams FC on Monday at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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Government has injected more than 3.4 billion cedis into the National Health Insurance Scheme after the removal of the cap on NHIS funding.
The Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Operations, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, told staff in Tamale that the move is the biggest investment in the Scheme since it was created in 2003.
He explained that the additional funds are already strengthening health financing across the country.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto addressed a trainer of trainers workshop on the ongoing reforms of the National Health Insurance Authority on Friday, November 21.
He noted that in 2024 the Scheme used 52 percent of its resources on claims and is using 65 percent this year, with plans to increase that figure again next year.
He explained that Executive Management, led by Chief Executive Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, is working to build a modern and efficient Scheme that focuses on people and meets its promise of providing fair access to quality health care.
Dr Kwesi Djokoto also outlined the Authority’s digital reforms, which are meant to bring health services closer to members and make the Scheme more resilient.
The initiatives form part of the Telehealth strategy and include the E pharmacy platform, which links patients to nearby pharmacies, the Biometric Membership Authentication System that verifies members seeking care, and a cashless system at registration centres.
He noted that these reforms are designed to improve access to quality health care and support Ghana’s goal of achieving Universal Health Care by 2030.
The Northern Regional Operations Manageress, Madam Fauzia Shingu Alhassan, welcomed participants on behalf of the Regional Director.
She stated that the training is part of reforms aimed at redefining the NHIS and making it sustainable.
She added that the digital upgrades represent major changes that will make the Scheme more efficient, accessible, and trustworthy.
The workshop brought together officials of the Ghana Health Service, the Christian Health Association of Ghana, private health providers, and a representative of the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Mr Gaeten Adangabey.
The Acting Director of Corporate Affairs, Mr Oswald Essuah Mensah, and the Acting Deputy Director of MIS, Mr Orison Aflu, took participants through the design of the digital platforms and how they will be rolled out next year.
Other officials present included the Acting Director of MIS, Mr Vitus Kaleo Bioh, Acting Director of the Claims and Illegal Payments Taskforce, Mr Isaac Gideon Akonde, the Head of Communication, Madam Faustina Dery, the Acting Deputy Director of Marketing, Madam Angela Asiedu, and the Acting Deputy Director of Client and Provider Relations, Madam Hamdiya Yakubu.
By: Jacob Aggrey
