( CNN ) -- Soccer player Fabrice Muamba has made an emotional first return to the ground where he suffered a career-ending heart seizure in March . The 24-year-old wiped away tears after being allowed to address the fans at Tottenham 's White Hart Lane during the English team 's European match on Thursday . At halftime , Muamba came onto the same pitch where he collapsed while playing for his former club Bolton eight months ago -- his heart stopped for 78 minutes but he was resuscitated and later made a remarkable recovery in hospital . However , the Zaire-born England under-21 international was unable to resume his playing career and he officially quit the game in August . `` I ca n't express ... All I can say is thanks to the Tottenham fans for the way they reacted , '' said Muamba , who had earlier been at London 's O2 Arena to watch tennis star Roger Federer in action . `` There are people out there who prayed for me . I want to thank the chairman , and to all the Spurs fans . I am grateful to them . They are awesome fans . `` Today I wanted to visit that place one more time for closure . '' Before Thursday 's Europa League match against Maribor , Tottenham 's website hailed Muamba as an `` inspiration '' and referred to his work with the `` Hearts & Goals '' campaign -- which aims to give communities across the UK access to 500 new defibrillators , as well as training . `` Amazing day at WHL tonight . Thank you guys for everythings spurs fans tonight were awesome . Thank you , '' Muamba wrote on Twitter -- the web platform where his then fiancee and now wife Shauna kept fans around the world updated about his recovery . `` So proud of my husband @ fmuamba for his fighting spirit and courage . Also proud of the humanity in the UK the support has been amazing , '' she wrote on Thursday after the match . He earlier revealed : `` Off to white hart lane , for the first time the incident happen . I am so nervous is unreal . Hope spurs win tonight . '' Muamba got his wish , as Tottenham beat Slovenian side Maribor 3-1 to bounce back from two Premier League defeats and boost the club 's hopes of progressing in the second-tier European competition . Muamba 's longtime friend , England international striker Jermain Defoe , scored all three goals for Tottenham to put the club second in Group J behind Italian side Lazio -- which also won , 3-0 against Greece 's Panathinaikos . Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas was not in charge when Muamba collapsed , but he welcomed the former Birmingham and Arsenal player in his prematch program notes . `` What happened to Fabrice at this stadium eight months ago has obviously changed his life forever , '' Villas-Boas wrote . `` Everyone in the game and the wider footballing world was delighted to see him make a full recovery . We are thrilled to have him here tonight and I would like to wish him the very best for the future . ''
Fabrice Muamba receives standing ovation as he returns to White Hart Lane for first match . Muamba collapsed at the London soccer stadium during a match in 2009 . His heart stopped for 78 minutes , but he was saved by a cheer from the crowd . Muamba is raising funds for his problems since being forced to retire .