Muamba ‘far away’ from playing

Published on 14/07/2012 02:09

FABRICE Muamba admits he is still “far away” from returning to the pitch but remains hopeful he will be able to resume his career with Bolton.

The midfielder was at the town’s Victoria Hall yesterday morning to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Bolton at their graduation ceremony.

Muamba was given the award to honour both him and the doctors who saved his life when he collapsed with a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup tie against Tottenham in March. He was rushed to the London Chest Hospital and doctors took 78 minutes to restart his heart, with his eventual recovery described as a miracle.

Muamba said: “I’m getting stronger every day. I’m far away from being back on the football pitch. I really, really hope, by the grace of God, that I’ll be back on the pitch but I’m just grateful to the university for this doctorate and I receive it on behalf of everybody who helped me to survive the cardiac arrest.”

Muamba and his family fled war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, seeking asylum in the UK.

Despite arriving in London aged 11 unable to speak English, he went on to achieve 10 GCSEs and three A levels and joined Arsenal’s youth academy in 2002 before moving to Birmingham and then Bolton in 2008.

In the audience to watch Muamba receive his doctorate were his fiancee Shauna and other family members, and he continued: “From the moment I got to England, my life has always been a challenge.

“There’s been so many obstacles, so many ups and downs, but I always had faith, I believed, I had a strong mentality that I would try to do my best for me and my family. This is an unbelievable opportunity for me to thank the doctors who helped me. Every day is a blessing.”