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Widow reveals German goalkeeper´s depression battle
BERLIN (AFP) - Germany is in shock after football star Robert Enke committed suicide by throwing himself under a train, with his wife revealing on Wednesday she had desperately tried to lift him out of depression.
The 32-year-old Hanover goalkeeper was set to play for Germany at next summer's World Cup in South Africa, but he took his life on Tuesday evening after suffering with depression for six years.
As a mark of respect, the German Football Federation (DFB) has cancelled Saturday's friendly against Chile in Cologne, although the match against the Ivory Coast on November 18 looks set to go ahead.
Enke was not selected for the Germany squad having only played again for Hanover last weekend after suffering a stomach infection in September which saw him lose his place in the national side to Leverkusen's Rene Adler.
His death in Neustadt am Rubenberge, near Hanover, has stunned football-mad Germany while Enke leaves behind his wife Teresa and 18-month-old daughter Leila whom the couple adopted in May.
In 2006, the couple suffered personal tragedy when their two-year-old daughter Lara died of a heart defect.
His widow revealed Enke had a fear of the authorities taking Leila away because of his illness, further worsening his angst and making him unwilling to go public about his problem.
Enke was first treated for depression in 2003 following a difficult time after a transfer to Barcelona and subsequent loan to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
He sought treatment again six weeks ago, suffering from a deep bout of depression - around the same time he lost his place in the Germany team through illness.
"I always tried to give him perspective and hope," Teresa bravely told a press conference in Hanover through the tears.
"I believed, with love, we would get through this."
But she insisted football had been her husbands driving force.
"Football was his elixir."
Apart from his family and doctor, no one at his club had any idea about Enke's depression.
"Nobody at the club was informed about this illness," said club president Martin Kind.
"There was never an indication to us in that direction.
"Robert was a kind, open and modest human being."
Enke's club Hanover may retire the Number One shirt permanently in tribute to the goalkeeper, said Kind.
And Germany coach Joachim Loew paid tribute to Enke, who won the first of his eight caps under Loew in the 1-0 win over Denmark in March 2007, admitting he was flabbergasted.
"It is difficult for me to describe my feelings: I am completely shocked and absolutely empty," said Loew.
"My whole sympathy goes out to his wife and his family.
"Robert was not only a talented player, but also a great person.
"We had several wonderful conversations.
"He could really listen and treated everyone with unbelievable respect.
"Being fair was always an important thing for him.
"His death is an immense loss and we will miss him, as both a high-class sportsman and an exceptional person."
While the game against the Ivory Coast is set to go ahead, team manager Oliver Bierhoff admitted Saturday's game against Chile would have been impossible for the players to cope with.
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