Ex - pro tells Cole , who once played in the second tier of English football , was diagnosed with a heart condition at the age of 17 but decided to play on for another eight years before retiring after doctors told him one more match could kill him . CNN Fabrice Muamba 's collapse proves he was right to play soccer . Mitchell Cole had heart condition for eight years due to love of soccer . He was diagnosed with heart disease aged 17 but only retired at 21 . Doctors treated him instead of suffering cardiac arrest increased through sport .
Ex - pro tells CNN Fabrice Muamba 's collapse proves he was right to play soccer . Mitchell Cole had heart condition for eight years due to love of soccer . He was diagnosed with heart disease aged 17 but only retired at 21 . Doctors treated him instead of suffering cardiac arrest increased through sport .