Basketball player laid to rest

Oct 12, 2008 Sports

– competition to be named in his honourBy Edison Jefford
The Courts Pacesetters basketball player, who collapsed and died on Burnham court on Sunday, was laid to rest yesterday after a ‘viewing’ at the basketball facility and funeral service at the West Ruimveldt Wesleyan Church.

The player, Kevin Worrel, was pronounced dead officially at 4:16 pm on Sunday after he mysteriously collapsed at the outdoor venue.

The post–mortem on Wednesday failed to reveal the cause (s) of the player’s death.
Tributes, tears and thanksgiving dominated the sombre atmosphere yesterday where past and present players, friends, family members and patrons paid their final respects to the talented Courts Pacesetters centre.

President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association, Trevor Rose along with past president Raffel Douglas, Robert Cadogan, Ian Andrews, Vijay Panday, Dennis Clarke and a host of other officials were present.

President of Kashif and Shanghai Kings, Collin Aaron, national centre, Jason Alonzo among other players from the team also had a presence along with the hierarchy of Victory Valley Royals from Linden.

The Linden Amateur Basketball Association postponed a much–anticipated first division final between Kings and Wismar Pistons to allow representatives from the Mining Town to attend yesterday’s proceedings.

Courts Guyana Inc., Republic Bank, Computer Giants and Laparkan Group of Companies were among the corporate supporters. Worrel’s family expressed appreciation to all those who shared “love” during their time of bereavement.

The mother of the 21–year–old, Rhonda Johnson had told Kaieteur Sport in an interview earlier this week that her life will not be the same. Worrel is the eldest son of his mother and second of five siblings.

“I can’t express what this means; it is the worst blow of my life; I never thought that this would happen to me,” Johnson had said, adding that she hopes that the right systems are implemented to prevent a recurrence.

The Executive of Georgetown’s basketball association has stated that it will rename Sunday’s event that proved fateful for Worrel ‘The Kevin Worrel Basketball Retreat’ when it continues at a date to be confirmed.