The Ghana Football Association (GFA) is mourning the passing of former Ghanaian international, Raphael Dwamena, who died at the age of 28 on the field of play.
Dwamena, who plays for Albanian side KF Egnatia, suffered a cardiac arrest during his team’s clash against Partizani and was subsequently suspended.
The late Raphael Dwamena, suffere heart attack during the game against KF Partizani in the Albanian Superliga.
The match, which had kicked off at 12:30 GMT, took a devastating turn when Dwamena collapsed on the field in the 24th minute.
Dwamena was the leading scorer in the Albanian league this season with nine goals. He had won nine caps and scored two goals for his country.
The player, was third-time unlucky, despite efforts by the medics to resuscitate him, and was rushed to the hospital by an ambulance.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) President, Kurt Edwin Simeon Okraku said in a statement: “Our deepest condolences to his family at this difficult moment”.
“Raphael represented Ghana wholeheartedly and paid his dues to the country until his unfortunate passing. We will forever miss him for his dedication to the National Course. Rest In Peace Raphael!”
In 2021, he collapsed during a cup match in Austria between his side Blau-Weiss Linz and Hartberg but recovered and continued his playing career.
He reportedly had a heart operation and had an automatic defibrillator implanted
Raphael Dwamena made nine appearances for the Black Stars of Ghana, scoring two goals, and played for clubs like Zurich, Levante, and Zaragoza, among others.
The late Raphael Dwamena was born on 12th September 1995 in Nkawkaw, the Municipal capital of Kwahu West in the Eastern Region.
Dwamena played and trained with the Red Bull Ghana developmental program.
At the International Tournament in Croix, France in 2013, Dwamena helped the RB Ghana U17 team to a silver medal performance and was named the tournament’s Best Player.
Before returning to Ghana, Dwamena and his teammate, David Atanga, first traveled to Austria for a one-week trial with FC Red Bull Salzburg.
Dwamena joined the Salzburg youth team in January 2014 and immediately made an impact on the U18 squad.
-BY Daniel Bampoe