The Amandala sports desk joins the basketball and sporting community in expressing our sincere condolences to the relatives, friends and teammates of basketballer Ronald Rivers who recently passed away, two weeks after being shot in the face while repairing his vehicle at a gas station in Belize City.

Ronald was one of a group of National Basketball Team players who abruptly ended a visit to Guatemala after only one game, when it was discovered that the tournament’s logo had a map of Guatemala including Belize as a part of their territory. For Belize’s honor, sovereignty and territorial integrity, Ronald and the other national team members, despite their desire to play some tune-up matches in preparation for the Central American Games, decided to return with their dignity to the Jewel, only to have his life cut short by a gun in the hands of a misguided youth.

We applaud the stand taken by our National Basketball Team members.

Respect, and R.I.P., brother Ronald Rivers.