London, Nov. 9 (ANI): Former Bolton Wanderers star Fabrice Muamba received a standing ovation from an audience

after he revisited the spot where he had clinically died eight months ago.

He collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrest on March 17 during Tottenham's FA Cup quarter-final tie at White Hart

Lane, and his heart had stopped for 78 minutes before being restarted when he was taken to hospital.

Muamba, who announced his retirement in August, returned to the spot on the pitch where he fell and pointed to it,

while wiping away tears.

"I thank the Tottenham fans for the way that they reacted. I thank these people who prayed for me and I thank the

chairman, everyone," the Daily Mirror quoted Muamba, as saying.

"I just wanted to come and see that place one more time for closure. I have nothing but respect for all of those people

who went out of their way to pray for me. The fans are awesome!" he added with his voice cracking with emotion.

According to the paper, since retiring from soccer, Muamba has insisted that he was simply happy to be alive when

he was told that he could not expect to play again.

He has admitted to finding it hard to adjusting to life without football but still hopes to become a manager in the future, the paper said. (ANI)