Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has paid tribute following the overnight death of Egyptian team-mate Ahmed Refaat.
Only 31-years-old, Refaat passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning. His career spanned over a decade in Egypt and the United Arab Emirates with his latest club, Modern Sport based in Cairo, confirming he had been rushed to hospital and not long after Egyptian media were alerted to his passing.
As the country’s people woke up to the devastating fact, Salah posted an image of Refaat accompanied by a heartfelt message to his social media channels. It translated: “May God grant patience to his family and all his loved ones.”
The former winger’s health problems were traced back to a cardiac arrest suffered on the field of play on March 11 this year, during an Egyptian Premier League match.
Afterwards he had been placed into an induced coma for nine days and just last week told members of the media that his health concerns meant he could never play the sport again.
Refaat had represented both his youth and senior national teams, turning out seven times for the latter with one of those alongside the Reds’ No.11.
The country’s Football Association have also spoken out, saying that everyone involved with the governing body will “mourn Ahmed Refaat, the player of the national team and Modern Sport Club, praying to God Almighty to have mercy on him and inspire his family and relatives with patience and solace. To God we belong and to Him we shall return.”
