Footballer Adam Swandi. | www.lioncitysailorsfc.sg

In his last game against Tanjong Pagar United in the Singapore Premier League (SPL) in September, Swandi was substituted at half-time after feeling unwell. While his condition stabilised following immediate medical attention, tests, which were conducted later, revealed that the 28-year-old suffers from cardiomyopathy.

According to the Sailors’ website, “Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle that makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. It can lead to serious heart conditions and, in more severe cases, symptoms of heart failure.”

Swandi hung up his boots on December 24. “…the ex-Singapore international has regretfully decided to end his decade-long professional football career,” the club informed.

Talking about his retirement, Swandi said, “Physically, I feel perfectly fine. Every day I wake up, I feel like I can push myself to play. But medically, I’ve been advised by the doctors and cardiologist that I shouldn’t play again. It’s definitely a tough pill to swallow, and I’m still trying to come to terms with the fact that I’m no longer a professional player.”

“In those quiet moments when I’m alone, after my wife and son have gone to bed — when I’m supposed to be sleeping — I sometimes find myself thinking about what really happened. Why did this happen to me? I’ve been doing this for the past 15 years of my life, and now it has to stop just like that,” he added.

A much sought after player, Swandi first shot to fame in the 2011 Lion City Cup, where he captained the Singapore Under-15s to victories over Newcastle United and Juventus, leading the team to a third-place finish.

He was part of the French Ligue 2 side FC Metz for two seasons from 2013 to 2015.

He was part of the inaugural batch when the Sailors was formed in 2020, and remained with the club since. During his stint, he made 93 appearances for the club, and won the 2021 SPL title, the 2023 Singapore Cup, and two Community Shield trophies.