The football fraternity is still in shock, following the sudden passing of former Bidvest Wits player Papy Faty.
The Burundian player passed away after collapsing during a football match in eSwatini on Thursday.
Read – Tragic: Ex-Wits Star Dies At Just 28
In this week's Soccer Laduma, edition 1120, in what became the very last interview for Faty, the 28-year-old midfielder spoke about the health condition that derailed his promising football career.
"I was happy and comfortable when I signed for Wits. Everything was conducted in a very professional manner and I felt at home, only required to deliver on the field. They treated me well and I have nothing but praise about the team," said Faty about his time with Wits.
"I was in my fifth season with Wits when one day I lost consciousness briefly. I had suffered a runny tummy the previous night and, during the morning session, I guess I was a bit dehydrated and I was not feeling good at all. That afternoon, I collapsed during a friendly game against SuperSport United. It was only for a few seconds and, when I regained my senses, the team doctor asked me which team we were playing against, whether I remembered what happened, and I answered all the questions, even who I had been marking shortly before I lost consciousness!," the late Faty had narrated about the tragedy that hampered his career.
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"The doctor asked me how I was feeling and I told him I was hungry. I guess because I had not eaten due to the runny tummy and the fact that everything I gulped came out again caused the hunger pangs. He gave me a chocolate bar and suggested that he was taking me to hospital for further check-ups. To be quite honest, I thought he was exaggerating a bit, but I took my car and drove myself to hospital.
"I was admitted right away. The doctors said I might feel well physically, but they were concerned about what they "saw" inside and that kind of freaked me out. The doctor said the situation was so grave that I could actually die. They ran some tests and discharged me the next day, promising to give me results after a period of four weeks. In the meantime, they forbade me from playing football or even training," he said.
Faty was playing for Malanti Chiefs in eSwatini during his time of death. The PSL has confirmed that moment of silence will be observed for the late star, who also had a stint with Real Kings in the NFD, during all of this weekend's Absa Premiership, National First Division and MultiChoice Diski Shield fixtures.
