We spoke on Thursday and he was fine – Raphael Dwamena’s mother on player’s death
By Emmanuel Kwame AMOH, Accra
Ruby Akakpo, the mother of the late footballer Raphael Dwamena, has shared her experience of receiving the heartbreaking news of her son’s demise over the weekend.
In an interview on Onua Sports on Maakye on Onua FM/TV on Tuesday, November 14, she revealed that she had spoken to her son just two days before the tragic incident.
“I talked to Nana Kwame on Thursday,” she told host Captain Smart, highlighting that her son, known for his constant communication with the family, was in touch regularly.
Dwamena would engage in video calls with his mother, sharing his post-match experiences from the dressing room after every game.
According to Akakpo, the family learned of the incident through social media on Saturday, November 11, prompting them to contact his manager to verify the news.
As of the interview, they had not received official communication from Dwamena’s club, KF Egnatia.
The tragic incident occurred during a match where Dwamena collapsed on the pitch in the 23rd minute as KF Egnatia faced Partizani in the Albanian league.
Despite on-field medical attention, he was pronounced dead while being transported to Kavaje Hospital.
Raphael Dwamena, who signed for FK Egnatia in 2022, had made 37 appearances and scored 24 goals for the club.
He was the leading scorer with 9 goals in the current Albanian league season, where his team currently holds the top position.
Dwamena’s career saw him play for various clubs, including Levante in the Spanish La Liga, Real Zaragoza in Spain, Vejle in Denmark, FC Blau Weiss Linz in Austria, BSC Old Boys in Switzerland, and most recently, KF Egnatia.
Ruby Akakpo mentioned that the family was aware of Dwamena’s heart condition, which had been detected during medicals with English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion in 2017, leading to the cancellation of the deal.
Despite their advice, Dwamena continued to pursue his passion for football.
“So, we allowed him to play until a time when he will voluntarily stop,” his mother explained, emphasizing the family’s support for Dwamena’s decision to continue playing despite the health concerns.
