Raphael Dwamena: Spanish Club Levante Pay Touching Tribute to Late Ghanaian Striker

• Raphael Dwamena tragically passed away after collapsing during a match
• The Ghanaian footballer faced setbacks due to his heart condition
• He was the top scorer in the Albanian top flight before his unfortunate demise

Spanish club Levante has joined hands with the football community to offer a poignant tribute to Raphael Dwamena, who tragically passed away on Saturday, November 11.

Dwamena, who played for Levante between 2018 and 2020, met his untimely end after collapsing during a match in the Albanian Superliga between FK Egnatia and KF Partizani.

As reported by DW, the 28-year-old, who earned nine caps for Ghana between 2017 and 2018, was carried off the field on a stretcher after he collapsed onto the pitch in the 23rd minute of the game.

Despite resuscitation attempts, he was later declared deceased.

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Dwamena's promising career as a striker faced interruptions due to persistent heart issues, and despite recommendations for early retirement, his passion for the game prevented him from stepping away.

Dwamena's playing career

The former Black Stars forward's football journey began at Red Bull Ghana before he moved to Austria to play in Salzburg.

It was at Austria Lustenau and later FC Zürich where he established himself as a standout forward, scoring 21 goals in 51 games during the 2017-18 season with the latter.

He played for a plethora of clubs across Switzerland, Spain, Austria, and Denmark. Prior to his unexpected demise, Dwamena led the top scorer's chart in the Austrian Superliga with nine goals.

Dwamena's battle with heart conditions

Despite his promising career as a striker, Dwamena faced setbacks due to his heart condition.

A potential move to Premier League side Brighton and Hove Albion in 2017 collapsed after he failed a medical, revealing the heart condition, as reported by Pulse.

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Following surgery to correct the condition, he returned to action in January 2020 but continued to play with a defibrillator until his passing.

Despite calls for the lanky striker to retire due to his recurring heart condition, he remained determined to play as long as he was medically fit to do so.

Levante pays solemn tribute to Dwamena

In the wake of the heartbreaking news, Levante took to social media, including X (formerly known as Twitter), to express a sincere tribute to their former striker, honouring his contributions and remembering him fondly.

"This is how we want to remember you, Rapha. With your eternal smile, enjoying a sport you loved," the club wrote.

Aside from their post on social media, the club also released a statement which read: “On behalf of Levante, we would like to express our sincere condolences for the death of our former player, Raphael Dwamena,”

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Raphael Dwamena passes on while playing football

In a previous update, Sports Brief conveyed the unfortunate news of the passing of Ghanaian footballer Raphael Dwamena, who collapsed during an Albanian Superliga game.

Dwamena had been utilizing an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) as a precautionary measure for a heart issue.