Raphael Dwamena, who once played for Liefering, Austria Lustenau and Blau-Weiß Linz, has died at the age of 28. As the Albanian Football Association announced on Saturday, the striker collapsed on the pitch and lost consciousness during his KF Egnatia’s championship game against Partizani on Saturday. Dwamena was taken to hospital, where he died despite immediate measures taken by doctors.
11.11.2023 16.57
Online since today, 4:57 p.m
Dwamena was under contract with Red Bull Salzburg from 2014, but only played for FC Liefering. He then moved to Lustenau in the 2nd league. After further stops in Switzerland (FC Zurich), Spain (Levante, Real Zaragoza) and Denmark (Vejle BK), the Ghanaian played for Blau-Weiß Linz in the 2021/22 season.
Since 2020, Dwamena has been playing with an implanted defibrillator after diagnosed heart failure. In the Cup round of 16 game between Blau-Weiß and TSV Hartberg he collapsed on the field in October 2021, but was soon able to leave the hospital again. The defibrillator saved him from something worse.
GEPA/Daniel Schoenherr Dwamena played in Austria with an implanted defibrillator, but later had the device removed
Dwamena had the defibrillator removed
Dwamena then declared that he wanted to continue his career as a professional. However, Blau-Weiß terminated the contract due to health concerns. Dwamena then played in a lower league in Switzerland before moving to Albania in the spring of this year. He had already had the defibrillator removed before his involvement in Switzerland. “I no longer have confidence in technology. I take all the risk on myself. If something happens, it’s my fault,” he told the internet portal 20 Minutes at the time. He played nine international matches for Ghana.
