Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sports and Recreation and Member of Parliament for Ashaiman, Hon. Ernest Henry Norgbey, has stated that he does not hold the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) responsible for the tragic death of Nigerian boxer Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju.
Instead, he places the blame on the backroom staff of the late boxer.
The comments follow the tragic events of March 28, when Olanrewaju collapsed during a bout with Jon Mbanagu.
He was rushed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
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In an exclusive interview with Citi Sports, Hon. Norgbey emphasized the critical role of medical personnel in ensuring the safety of athletes, especially in a physically demanding sport like boxing.
Every athlete or sports person must have his/her personal doctor to be able to check periodically.
Sporting activities is about the heart and when you look at the video very well, there was no hit as the boxer was moving backwards and he fell and so I don’t see why it should be the fault of the GBA.
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But rather, I will blame the backroom staff of the Nigerian boxer because if they had checked him well before entering the ring, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.
According to him, the unfortunate incident could have been avoided if the boxer’s support team had done their due diligence.
You are a boxer, you are an athlete and you are coming to fight in Ghana, you should have your personal doctors.
Olanrewaju ‘Success’ Segun. Photo Courtesy: Naija X
Hence, when you enter into the ring, or before you enter into the ring, your doctors must clear you before you enter the ring.
I don’t see how the GBA are the one responsible for whatever happened.
In response to the incident, the Minister for Youth and Sports has set up a committee to investigate the circumstances that led to the boxer’s untimely death, which has cast a shadow over the boxing scene in Ghana
