Beersheba's Chaswe Nsofwa dies after training match

Temperatures on the field approached 40 degrees Celsius with low humidity when Nsofwa collapsed.

By JONNY HADI, AP
Chaswe Nsofwa 88 (photo credit: )
Chaswe Nsofwa 88
(photo credit: )
Hapoel Beersheba player Chaswe Nsofwa died after collapsing during a training match against Maccabi Beersheba at the team's Vasermil Stadium on Wednesday. Nsofwa, 27, who was part of the Zambian African Nations Cup squad in 2002, joined the National League team close to the start of the new season. The striker scored two goals on his debut Saturday against Hakoah Amidar Ramat Gan last weekend. Nsofwa went through a physical when he joined the team just two weeks ago and was declared to be fully fit. New Hapoel Beersheba owner Alona Bareket, who purchased the club just several weeks ago said: "I'm shocked. I can't believe that something like this has happened. This is a huge tragedy for the family, for Hapoel Beersheba Football Club and for me personally." Rescue workers tried to restart Nsofwa's heart for several minutes before taking him to Soroka Hospital in Beersheba, where he was pronounced dead. Paramedic Carmel Cohen told The Associated Press that he rushed to the field when he received the emergency call. "When we arrived we found the soccer player lying on the grass. We found his friends trying to help him," he said. "We gave him first aid, electric shocks and an external pacemaker, but despite all our efforts, he was declared dead at the hospital." It was not known what caused the player's collapse. Temperatures on the field approached 40 degrees Celsius with low humidity when Nsofwa collapsed. On Tuesday, Antonio Puerta, a midfielder for the Spanish team Sevilla, died three days after collapsing during a league game. Allon Sinai contributed to this report.