Canadian basketball player dies in Bahrain at age 27
A Canadian expert ball player from Brampton, Ont., has kicked the bucket in Bahrain at 27 years old.
Kenny Ejim was playing with Al-Najma in the Bahraini Premier League, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) said Tuesday in an explanation affirming his passing. There's no word yet on how he passed on.
Ejim played for the CEBL's Hamilton Honey Badgers last season and with the Saskatchewan Rattlers in 2020.
"His persistent effort and irresistible character propelled his colleagues and enlivened more youthful players to seek after their fantasies. However much Kenny got from the game, he offered back undeniably more," the CEBL said in the articulation.
"Our compassion and petitions are with all who knew Kenny as a relative, companion and partner. He will be incredibly missed."
CBC News talked with an Ejim's relative who said the family is requesting protection as of now.
Mike Morreale, magistrate and CEO of the association, said the insight about his passing is a shock.
Morreale said Ejim went to Bahrain to proceed with his profession in the slow time of year and to improve as a ball player. He was the star of his group there, he added.
"He was a particularly amicable person. I realize his partners adored him. I realize the fans adored him. He made an imprint," he said.
"We were eager to invite him back home in May this season to one of our groups. It surely is a troublesome day."
Ejim 'had a grin that could illuminate a field'
The Hamilton Honey Badgers association said in an explanation on Tuesday that it is "profoundly disheartened." The group depicted Ejim as a "significant" part during the 2021 season and a companion to many individuals in the Canadian b-ball local area.
"Kenny carried an undeniable degree of energy to our association on and off the court, and he was a remarkable partner,' the association said.
"Kenny had a grin that could illuminate a field. He put resources into himself as a player and personally, while continuously making time to lift up everyone around him. It is immeasurable that a brilliant, solid and driven young fellow would have his life end."
The association stretched out its sympathies to loved ones. "He will be significantly missed and recollected with much love and regard," it said.
"He was like a son to me. It's just so hard," he said in tears. "He was a young man who had finally found his groove and was headed in a really good direction."
John Lashway, leader of the Hamilton Honey Badgers, said Ejim was notable and popular.
"He was unquestionably a player who was vital to our association. He was likewise a player who was normally the main person to elect to accomplish some local area work for us, a person that carried a high energy to all that we did. He was peaceful however he had a major character," he said.
Lashway said Ejim would remain around after training to help tidy up and he was modest off the court.
"It's a truly lamentable day for us. It's hit us quite hard."
'A definitive partner'
Ryan Schmidt, lead trainer of the Hamilton Honey Badgers, instructed Ejim in the 2021 summer season. He said he was a genuine cooperative person.
"He was the exemplification of durability," Schmidt said.
"There was nothing you could request that he do that he wasn't able to do need to do. Likely the most effective way to depict him is he was a definitive partner," he added.
"He truly wanted to see his colleagues succeed That characterized who he was personally." he added.
"His misfortune will be felt for quite a while. He was a pleasant individual to be near. He gave pleasure each and every day. He helped others to have an improved outlook."
'He resembled a child to me'
As indicated by an account by the Honey Badgers, Ejim was brought into the world in Brampton on Dec. 3, 1994.
As indicated by an account by the Saskatchewan Rattlers, he had three siblings, whom he credited as being "large impacts in his day to day existence," alongside his mom. Two of his siblings, Ryan and Melvin Ejim, are additionally proficient ball players.
He went to Humber College and played with the Humber Hawks from 2014 to 2019.
Patrick Au, who was lead trainer of the Hawks at that point, said he is as yet attempting to deal with the news.
As an expert, Ejim played with Zornotza Saskibaloi Taldea, Aquimisa Zamorano Innova Chef and Ciudad Autónoma De Melilla Enrique Soler in Spain. He endorsed as a free specialist on June 9, 2021.
Worldwide Affairs Canada said in an email on Tuesday that it knows about a demise of a Canadian in Bahrain.
"Consular authorities are in touch with neighborhood specialists and are offering consular types of assistance to the family," Global Affairs Canada said in an email.
The government office said it can't unveil some other data because of protection contemplations.
Accolades are being presented on Ejim on Twitter.
