Sombre mood as student collapses, dies during Kenya and Egypt Varsity playoff Basketball match

By Judith Gicobi

Following the untimely demise of an American student studying in Cairo university, the tenth edition of the All Africa University Games, held at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, was marked by sadness and mourning on the last day (Friday).

In the sixth minute of the first session of their men’s basketball third-place playoff game versus United States International University-Africa (USIU-A), the student fainted.

Officials abruptly called off the game, which was being held at Kasarani Gymnasium. Attempts to resuscitate the player were unsuccessful, prompting medical staff to transport him to a neighboring hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Egyptian official reacts after their student collapsed during yesterday’s basketball third place playoff match against a Kenyan university at Kasarani Gymnasium.

Kasarani police head Peter Mwanzo confirmed the death, saying the student died while they were playing and that attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

“The embassy has been informed. They will use their internal mechanisms to convey the message to the family,” Mwanzo said.

police spokesman Bruno Shioso, while also verifying stated “It’s an act of God. The boy was playing basketball and he just fell and collapsed, he was rushed to the hospital where they tried to resuscitate him, but it couldn’t work. The incident happened in the morning hours around 11am.”