Singapore footballer Adam Swandi announces retirement at 28 due to heart condition

SINGAPORE – At 28, Adam Swandi was poised for the peak of his career.

The attacking midfielder had already achieved several milestones: Domestic league and cup triumphs, an individual accolade at the annual local football awards and goals at the international level. He was eyeing more – more club silverware, another overseas opportunity and a trophy with Singapore.

But those dreams have been dashed.

In an exclusive interview with The Straits Times, Adam confirmed his early retirement from professional football after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a condition that weakens the heart muscle and impairs its ability to pump blood effectively.

This puts him at a high risk of a potentially fatal cardiac event if he continues playing competitive football.

“A big, big shock”, said Adam during an interview at the Sailors’ Mattar Road headquarters on Dec 19.

“It’s crazy that this has happened almost overnight... that I can’t play football any more when it’s all that I’ve done my whole life. I felt really, really sad.”

The first sign of trouble came in June during a friendly match where Adam said he felt “a bit off, my head was spinning and my heart rate felt a little too fast”. He crouched down for a few seconds and then carried on, brushing it off as probably having not slept or eaten well.

Several weeks later, Adam felt unwell again after a training session and was taken to hospital where he underwent a CT scan and electrocardiogram (ECG) before he was discharged and given a week’s rest.

At that point, Adam was not too concerned and did not think it would occur again.

But on Sept 14, in a Singapore Premier League (SPL) match against Tanjong Pagar United at Jurong East Stadium – where Adam had scored the Sailors’ second goal – he was jogging back into position when he felt dizzy and experienced tightness in his chest.

“I felt something was wrong. So I stopped jogging. I started walking. It didn’t get better. And then I stopped walking totally. It didn’t get better. I went down totally to the ground. It didn’t get better. I was taken off and I felt the same thing. It didn’t go away for quite a while,” said Adam, who was substituted and taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital.

He was hospitalised for a few days for further checks. Adam then decided to consult a private cardiologist who advised him to go for a “contrast ECG”, which led to the diagnosis.

A second opinion with National Heart Centre Singapore had the same outcome. Unlike the anterior cruciate ligament injury in July 2019 which put him out of action for 15 months, this time there will be no return to the sport.

Adam said: “When I was told about the heart condition by the cardiologist, the club’s medical staff were there as well, and we asked whether there’s a way back to football. The answer was ‘no’.

“At that moment, I realised that my career is over.”

Despite the medical check-ups that professional footballers have to go through, it is not uncommon for them to be diagnosed with heart conditions or experience cardiac issues only midway through their careers.

In 2022, Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Enock Mwepu was forced to retire at the age of 24 because of a previously undetected hereditary heart condition.

Notably, Manchester United midfielder Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark at Euro 2020 in 2021. He returned to action in 2022 after being fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Locally, former national midfielder Tan Kim Leng was diagnosed with a hole-in-the-heart condition in 2001. He returned to action several months after surgery.

Adam will have a discussion with his cardiologist on his next steps.

While he admitted to feeling shocked and crestfallen by the news, especially since he had passed the mandatory annual medical check-ups, his calm demeanour during the interview showed that he had come to terms with it.

Adam credited his family – wife Nurul Izzati and three-year-old son Ayden Noah – and parents – mother Hamidah Dasuki and father Swandi Kitto, also a former national footballer – and close friends for their support which got him through the early days of devastation. He is also grateful to the Sailors who have rendered help all the way.

Adam said: “If I wasn’t married and didn’t have kids, I would probably fall into depression, because (football) is all that I know. It’s not just a job, it’s my life.

“Being a father actually got me to look at things objectively. I think in the end, God has given me the opportunity to keep on living.”

Adam enjoyed his best season with Albirex Niigata in 2018 when he won the SPL, Singapore Cup and Community Shield. He was later named Young Player of the Season and was in the League’s Team of the Year.

He was part of the inaugural batch of players when the Sailors were formed in 2020, and has made 93 appearances for the club, with whom he won the 2021 SPL title, the 2023 Singapore Cup and the Community Shield twice.

The Sailors have pledged to help him make a smooth transition into life after football, as he explores opportunities within the club.

Describing Adam as a valuable club member, Sailors chairman Forrest Li said: “His warm personality and consistently upbeat spirit have had a positive impact on everyone here.

“Given his immense talent, we’re all deeply saddened that he has to end his career in this way. As a club, we’re committed to giving him all the love and support he needs as he transitions into his post-football journey, and we hope he will continue contributing to the club in other capacities.”

Local football fans might remember Adam as the silky playmaker who rose to prominence at the 2011 Lion City Cup with an array of tricks, flicks and delightful skills. Unknown to many, though, Adam could have taken the academic route – he posted a PSLE aggregate of 255 – but chose to go to the Singapore Sports School so that he could pursue his passion for football.

At the 2012 Lion City Cup, Adam captained the Singapore Under-16s and was singled out for praise by the coaches of Ajax Amsterdam and Brazilian team Vasco da Gama.

Adam then earned training stints with the academies of overseas clubs such as English Premier League side Newcastle United, Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and French outfit FC Metz, with the latter two coming up with contract offers.

At 17, he inked a two-year deal with Metz. While he gained plenty of experience there, he was unable to get enough competitive minutes and returned home for national service when his contract ran out and joined the Young Lions in the SPL in 2015.

Adam, who made his international debut also at 17, has 22 appearances and two goals with the Lions, the last cap coming in a World Cup qualifying 5-0 defeat by South Korea in Seoul in 2023. This season, he has scored three goals in nine SPL matches for the Sailors.

Although his career has been cut short, Adam is certain there is “not even a hint of regret”.

Reflecting on his journey, he said: “I feel accomplished. In the end, you only have yourself to be accountable for. I put in all my effort. To be able to survive in professional football from the age of 17 till now and stay relevant is a big accomplishment to me. I left nothing behind. I gave my all.”