CONTROVERSY is brewing at the Ferencvaros Club in Hungary surrounding the decision by the premier division club to sign Trinidad and Tobago’s Akeem Adams earlier this year. Adams, 22-years-old, is currently warded at the Varosmajor Heart Clinic in Budapest recovering for a massive heart attack suffered over two months ago.
The former defender has had his lower left leg amputated on October 8 due to necrosis and is still awaiting a heart transplant. Ferencvaros have been supporting Adams fully since his unfortunate predicament, footing his medical expenses as well as paying for his mother and brother to stay in Hungary while he slowly recovers. They also have led the way in a blood donation drive for the former TT player and raised funds from the sale of tribute jerseys.
In addition, Ferencvaros’ fortunes have coincided with Adams’ ill-health, winning just one of their next eight league games and plummeting from second place in the standings to seventh spot.
Moniz seemed to have been hit hard by Adams’ situation, continually bringing it up during post match press conferences and how it has affected the team. And on Sunday the club parted ways with their Dutch manager Ricardo Moniz citing the poor run of form recently, collecting just six out of a possible 24 points.
Reports have emerged from the club’s medical team, though, that Moniz allegedly knew Adams had a family history of cardiovascular problems and did not disclose it to them. Akeems’ father died of a stroke at age 51 while his grandfather passed away at 34.
Doctor Zsolt Szelid, one of the doctors of Ferencvaros, reportedly told a Hungarian newspaper that the medical team of the club had suggested to not sign Adams after his first medical. They found some problems in his thigh and ankle — petrifaction — which would make the player prone to injury. And the doctor also said Moniz knew Akeem’s father had cardiovascular problems.
But in an interview with Nemzeti Sport Online, Moniz denied Szelid’s accusation. “Those who know me, know my players (come) first all the time...Do you think if I see that only half a percent chance (something could) be wrong, I (will) force anything! Akeem case of speaking, I had no idea that the player had a family history of any medical problems,” he declared.
“I do not want doctors to blame, but I have to acknowledge the current tests are not perfect...Everyone must be at the highest level of stress tests carried out so that similar tragedies do not happen,” he continued.
Meanwhile, speaking to Brent Sancho yesterday, the Managing Director of Central FC — Adams’ previous club — the former Soca Warriors player indicated that the Pro League club unearthed no such ankle or thigh problem when Adams did his medical at the club.
“He did a medical, but did not expose any problem. We did medicals with one or two players already and when it showed something was wrong we did not pursue our interest,” he explained.
Sancho did acknowledge, though, that the tests done by Ferencvaros may have been a bit more extensive than those conducted here. He noted though that he found it a bit surprising and suspicious that all this information is coming out in the open now.
Nevertheless, Sancho revealed that plans are afoot for a squad of former national players to visit Hungary in February next year to play a charity game against a team there to raise more funds for the former national player.