By Paul Nicholson
August 13 – Ecuadorian striker Christian Benitez who died in Qatar a day after playing his first game for the Al Jaish club on July 29, had a congential heart ailment that had gone undetected in numerous physical examinations. The 27-year-old Ecuadorian striker’s death had added fuel to the debate over whether to switch the 2022 Qatar World Cup to winter, partly so as not to endanger players’ health. However, in this case the links between his death and the summer heat are unfounded.
Benitez’s body was flown back to Ecuador from Qatar where an autopsy was performed on his body by Dr Particio Maldonado. It was found that Benitez died due to problems “that cannot be detected even with very sophisticated exams.”
“Medical science is not 100 per cent effective,” said Maldonado, “and we are left with painful incidents such as this.” Benitez had been admitted to the hospital with severe stomach pains after the match.
Maldonado said that Benitez had played for a number of clubs where medical checkups are mandatory, “but this problem was only detected post-mortem.” The president of Ecuador’s soccer federation, Luis Chiriboga, said the problem was a flawed coronary artery.
Benitez, known as ‘Chucko’, was top scorer in the Mexican league last season with 30 goals for Club America while 24 goals in 58 appearances for his country ranked him third among Ecuador’s all-time marksmen. Club America won the Mexican championship last season.
Benitez had gained almost legendary status in both countries having started his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and having also played for Mexico’s Santos Laguna.
Among the youngest players to appear at the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany, he also had a short spell in English football with Birmingham City where he scored four goals in 36 appearances before returning to Mexico.
Back in Mexico he continued to score goals and was signed up by El-Jaish for a reported £10 million in what was regarded as a major coup for Qatar. His debut came in the closing minutes of a 2-0 win over Qatar SC in the first round of the Sheikh Jassim Cup, a warm-up for the new league season.
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