– Season to resume after funeral
By Rawle Toney
Following the death of 21-year-old Courts Pacesetters player Kevin Worrell on Sunday, the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) has promised to have affiliated club members properly insured.
Worrell, who was playing for his club against Maccabees in the third match of the GABA’s knock-out basketball tournament, collapsed on the court and was pronounced dead on arrival at the Georgetown Public Hospital.
At a press briefing held yesterday, president of the GABA, Trevor Rose, said at a recent meeting with the clubs, the issue of making sure that players were insured was discussed adding that only one club, ironically, Courts Pacesetters, had taken up the task.
The GABA will also be teaming up with the Red Cross to have club members, referees and members of basketball clubs taught the correct way of doing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
After Worrell collapsed on the outdoor Burnham Basketball Court on Sunday, it took approximately 20 minutes before he was transported to the GPHC and only Rose, attempted some form of CPR.
Meanwhile, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABBF) Ret. Col. Godwin McPherson has described the death of the player as unfortunate and a great loss to the sport.
Mc Pherson added that he had sent his sympathy to family and friends of the player.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport, McPherson said that clubs around the country should make sure that their players are properly insured.
The long-serving GABBF head stated that it was unfortunate that it caused the death of a player to make clubs more serious about the health of its members.
He added that it might now be wise to have players produce a medical certificate to show that they are medically fit to play the game before attempting to do so.
Chairman of the Courts Pacesetters Basketball Club, Dennis Clarke, said that Courts Guyana Inc. sponsors of the Courts Pacesetters Basketball Club, has pledged to assist with the funeral and wake expenses.
Rose, said that his administration had also pledged to do whatever was possible although the GABA was in deep financial constraints.
In the meantime, The GABA will be hosting a vigil every night at the Burnham Court until the funeral of Worrell.
It was also announced that the basketball season will recommence after the funeral starting with the continuation of the one-day, knock-out event which will be played Kevin Worrell’s honour.
