The family of Fabrice Muamba said today the footballer was recovering and that they looked forward to him being “back home”.
Speaking for the first time since the Bolton Wanderers player collapsed during an FA Cup match, relatives told of their relief after he spoke to them.
The 23-year-old, who is still in intensive care, but is now breathing by himself, is able to recognise family members and is believed to have asked after his three-year-old son, Joshua.
A cousin, who did not want to be named, told The Standard: “His eyes are open and he’s recognising people. I spoke to him yesterday, he’s able to speak. Everything is fine. We thank God for that. He will be back home.”
Muamba collapsed on the pitch at White Hart Lane at 6.11pm on Saturday in the quarter-final tie against Tottenham Hotspur. His family, including his fiancée Shauna Magunda, 27, and his parents, Marcel and Gertrude, have been maintaining a constant vigil at his bedside at the London Chest Hospital in Bethnal Green since his collapse.
A close friend told how the family “were devastated” at the weekend. Curtis Codrington, who has spent hours at the footballer’s bedside praying for his recovery, said: “When he opened his eyes and spoke, his first words were in French. It is such a good sign.”
The chauffeur added Muamba, who does not drink and is “deeply religious”, is devoted to his family. “He is one of the most genuine guys I have ever met,” he said. “His family mean everything to him.” Miss Magunda today thanked the thousands of well-wishers across the world for their support.
She tweeted: “God never puts more on u than u can bear. Ur positivity, love and faith is helping Fabrice. For that I can only thank u all xx.”
Bolton and doctors caution Muamba’s condition “remains serious”.
