adminCHELSEA legend Didier Drogba has called for better medical checks to protect footballers in his native Cote d’Ivoire after the death of a player during a top-flight league game.
Racing Club d’Abidjan defender Moustapha Sylla, 21, collapsed during the match against SOL FC on Sunday and was pronounced dead on the way to hospital, according to his club.
Video of the incident shows Sylla stumbling before losing his balance and falling to the ground motionless, near the centre-circle, prompting opposition players to call for medical assistance.
On Tuesday, the South African football fraternity was also plunged into mourning after Siphamandla Mtolo, a player with top-flight side Richards Bay FC, collapsed and died during a training session at the side.
The club confirmed that the midfielder, 29, died suddenly during training on Tuesday morning, but said it was “not in a position to provide further information at (this) stage.”
“It is with deep sadness to announce that Richards Bay Football Club has lost one of the midfielders, Siphamandla ‘Spepe’ Mtolo this morning during training,” the club said in a statement.
The Premier Soccer League said it was “saddened” by the sudden passing of Mtolo and announced that a moment of silence would be observed at all upcoming events this week in honour of the player.
In Cote d’Ivoire, RCA president Logossina Cisse described Sylla as a “rising star that left too soon” while the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) led tributes on social media.
“In this moment of pain and emotion, FIF extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased, to the managers and players of RCA, as well as to the Ivorian football family,” FIF wrote on Facebook.
Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football, also expressed his shock at “the tragic passing of such a young life who showed promise on the football field”.
Sylla won the 2022 Malian title with Djoliba AC before joining RCA in September.
Reacting to the death, former Elephants captain Drogba demanded that players be offered more medical protection by football authorities.
“Condolences to Ivorian football,” wrote Drogba, who last year lost a bid to run football in Ivory Coast and whose international team-mate Cheick Tiote died following a cardiac arrest in China back in 2017.
“Three deaths of Ivorian professional league players in less than four years.
“Where are the compulsory medical visits for each professional player? The blood tests, the ECGs, the stress tests? When will sports medicine arrive?” – Ghetto Radio/APA.
Online Reporter