Aussie striker retires due to health reasons

In sad news, ex-Sydney FC star Chris Naumoff has been forced into an early retirement due to a genetic heart condition.

Naumoff is just 21-years-old but has been forced to hang up the boots due to the issue with his heart.

It comes just three weeks after the young attacker secured a dream move from the Sky Blues to Spanish Segunda Division club Numancia.

But during a medical with his new club they found an abnormality in Naumoff’s heart, deciding not to continue with the signing.

 

To my family, friends and fans I would like to take this opportunity to explain the current situation regarding my professional football career. As some of you may be aware I was fortunate enough to have signed a 3 year deal with C.D. Numancia in Spain, for me a dream come true. During the mandatory medical assessment under taken by C.D. Numancia it was found that there was an abnormality of my heart. Apart from this finding there is no issue with my health and fitness. After two follow up examinations from professional football related cardiologists in Madrid, and a final consultation with Professor Christopher Semsarian in Sydney the condition was confirmed as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM is a genetic condition which involves thickening of the interior heart wall and introduces a risk of sudden cardiac arrest, in particular for professional athletes during activity. How long this condition has affected me is unknown, and how this condition was not discovered during my time as a professional in Australia is a question for another day. As a result of these findings, in conjunction with the risks that come with the condition, the history of players with this condition, recommendations from the cardiac professionals and the international rules of the game, it is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from professional football. I would like to use this opportunity to thank first and foremost C.D. Numancia for finding this condition, their hospitality during this period was overwhelming. I would like to thank Sydney FC for providing me the opportunity to start my professional career, also thank you to all my junior clubs in which I spent time with prior to my professional career. In particular I would like to express special thanks to my immediate family and agent Miquel Riera for helping me through this difficult time. For me I am grateful that this condition was found before any fatality. I encourage all professional or amateur football clubs and individuals to take out these tests to ensure all players can play the game risk free of potential fatality.

A photo posted by Kiki Naumoff (@cnaumoff29) on Jul 4, 2016 at 2:48am PDT

In a statement released to The World Game, Naumoff said: “During the mandatory medical assessment under taken by C.D. Numancia it was found that there was an abnormality of my heart. Apart from this finding there is no issue with my health and fitness.

“After two follow up examinations from professional football related cardiologists in Madrid, and a final consultation with Professor Christopher Semsarian in Sydney the condition was confirmed as Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM).

“HCM is a genetic condition which involves thickening of the interior heart wall and introduces a risk of sudden cardiac arrest, in particular for professional athletes during activity.

How long this condition has affected me is unknown, and how this condition was not discovered during my time as a professional in Australia is a question for another day.

As a result of these findings, in conjunction with the risks that come with the condition, the history of players with this condition, recommendations from the cardiac professionals and the international rules of the game, it is with great sadness that I announce my retirement from professional football.”

Naumoff has signalled his intentions to “stay involved in football one way or another”.

He played 55 games for Sydney FC in the Hyundai A-League after making his debut in 2013, appearing in the 2015 grand final against Melbourne Victory and was also a part of the Sky Blues ACL campaign this year.

Naumoff also represented Australia at both under-20 and under-23 level.