By David Gold
March 21 – Fabrice Muamba has held a “brief” conversation with his Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle as he continues to show positive signs after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie last weekend.
Muamba had to be rushed to the London Chest Hospital as he fought for his life after collapsing during Bolton’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on Saturday night (March 17).
It took two hours for his heart to start working again as he was treated on Saturday, but it is now doing so independently as he continues to show progress.
“There’s still a long way to go but that’s really positive,” Coyle said.
“Where we all were on Saturday night, at this stage I would certainly never have envisaged this improvement.”
Shauna Magunda, the mother of the 23-year-old’s son Joshua, and also his fiancée, wrote on Twitter: “All your prayers are working.
“Thank you so so much, Fabrice has felt every single prayer.
“Guys you’ve been incredible!”
Muamba has been visited in hospital by a number of Premier League players this week, including former Arsenal team mates Ashley Cole and Johan Djourou.
The incident on Saturday shocked the football world.
Some of Real Madrid’s players wore shirts featuring the message “get well soon Muamba” ahead of their game with Malaga on Sunday night (March 18).
Others wore shirts supporting Barcelona left back Eric Abidal, who has had a liver transplant as he recovers from cancer.
There was a particular poignancy to Real’s gesture, as they have themselves had to deal with the retirement of Rubén de la Red (pictured) at just 25 due to a heart condition after he collapsed on the pitch during a Copa del Rey tie.
Juventus midfielder Andrea Pirlo also dedicated his team’s 5-0 win over Fiorentina in Serie A last weekend to the stricken Bolton midfielder.
There have also been calls for better medical screening to identify players at risk from heart conditions in the Premier League.
Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini was in no doubt today about what should be done as he spoke before his team’s game with Chelsea tonight.
“I was really worried on Sunday,” Mancini said.
“Today I have read he has improved and I am very happy for him and his family.
“If you want to know my opinion, it is that here in England, the best championship in the world, everything is fantastic.
“But we need to improve the medical side for the players.
“We need to screen the players often, maybe two times a year and they have to be more accurate because they don’t do this.
“When I saw our medical two years ago, I was really worried.
“I said we need to do them better.”
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