Former Commonwealth and British Light Heavyweight boxing champion Peter Oboh, has condoled with the people of Kano State, and their Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, over the death of the sportsmen who represented the state at the just-concluded National Sports Festival, NSF, in Ogun State.

Oboh also prayed God to give the family of the late athletes the fortitude to bear “the irreparable loss”.

Recall that 22 members of the state’s contingent to the NSF tagged Gateway Games, lost their lives in an accident,  while returning home after the games.

Reacting, Peter Oboh said: “My heartfelt condolences to the people of Kano State, their governor, and specially the family of the 21 persons that lost their lives in a car accident while returning from the 22nd National Sports Festival in Ogun state.

“I still remember how, as a yourng  sportsman, my sports hero, Roberto Baldo, was killed on July 2, 1994 aged 25 years, while returning home after a training session in Avana Cuba Gymnasium.

“He was three times Super Heavyweight Amateur gold medalist in the World Championships, and 1992 Olympic Super Heavyweight gold medallist. He died in a car accident returning from the gym.

“I have learnt something; whenever you are driving or being driven, always be at alert, especially if it is a long journey. Some drivers drive under the influences of some wrong things, while others can fall asleep while driving

“The truth is my eyes are filled with tears over this Kano tragedy. I remember an old wise adage that says it is better to be early than to be late. But it is much wiser, to me, to be late than be the late.

“A thorough and unbiased investigation must be carried out to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of this tragedy. No family deserves this sad  news after their loved ones represented the state, ” Peter Oboh concluded.