Adams needs more blood
Most of the Hungarian first division teams have shown their support for fallen Trinidad and Tobago defender Akeem Adams either by wearing T-shirts bearing the player’s name or displaying hangings with supportive words.
Adams’ teammate, Philipp Bönig said Adams’ injury is a devastating blow to everyone. And the club is calling for more blood donors as the time for a heart transplant approaches.
Trinidad and Tobago left defender Adams is fighting for his life after suffering a heart attack last week in Hungary where he plays for champions Ferencvárosi TC.
Adams remains at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of Városmajori Heart Clinic, in the presence of his mother Ancilla Adams and brother Akini Adams. He has been fitted with a mechanical heart and is awaiting a heart transplant.
On Tuesday, Ferencvárosi TC gave a brief update on Adams’ condition and thanked fans and fellow clubs for their response. Hundreds of supporters have given blood.
“The club waits for more blood donors in the upcoming days also outside Budapest. Ferencvárosi Torna Club is grateful to receive the well-wishes and blood packets offered to our player,” Ferencvárosi said on its website. “Since last Thursday hundreds of not only our club’s supporters responded to the call to give blood to our 22-year-old player. Supporters, players, football team boards and people untouched by this sport.
“Outside Hungary’s borders, also Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA joined the growing crowd of well-wishers hoping for a complete recovery of Akeem Adams,” Ferencvárosi added.
Bönig believes Adams’ condition has had a negative effect on the team. They lost and drew matches they were expected to win, following a 3-1 victory over their main rivals, Újpest days before Adams collapsed.
“When we heard about Akeem’s tragedy we were under overwhelming shock. None of us have ever experienced something like this that one teammate had to fight all of a sudden for his life. It is going to be completely different without him but we are a mentally strong team. It is our duty now to fight for Akeem. We hope, we pray and we fight for him. That is the most we can do to help him recover.
“The team is still in the first three,” Bönig continued, “but it was defeated in the last round by Puskás Academy. That match had two sides. On the one hand, we received easy goals and created many chances and hit the bar three times, so we could have won. On the other hand, we weren’t concentrated enough. We need 100 per cent concentration to defeat any of our opponents. A match like the one against Puskás Academy cannot happen again.”