YAOUNDE (Reuters) - Seven Cameroon athletes have disappeared while in Britain for the London Olympics, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education said on Monday evening.
The seven - five boxers, a swimmer and a soccer player - are suspected of having left to stay in Europe for economic reasons.
"What began as rumor has finally turned out to be true. Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village," David Ojong, the mission head said in a message sent to the ministry.
Ojong said a reserve goalkeeper for the women's soccer team, Drusille Ngako, was the first to disappear. She was not one of the 18 finally retained after pre-Olympic training in Scotland.
While her team-mates left for Coventry for their last preparatory encounter against New Zealand, she vanished. A few days later, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue and his personal belongings were also not found in his room.
Ojong added that five boxers eliminated from the games, Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo, disappeared on Sunday from the Olympic village.
International Olympic Committee officials said on Tuesday they had heard nothing about the missing athletes.
"We are unaware of it," IOC spokesman Mark Adams said when asked whether organizers had heard of it.
It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.
At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games as well as junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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You should not blame them because the want to look for a greener pasture instead of coming back to Africa and start suffering. As they said; opportunity comes but once and this is the only chance they need to established in London, so they are fouls forever if they miss it.
ReplyDeleteBut I thought Camerounians are enjoying in their country why will they run away. If it were to be Nigerians, you people's trumpet would hv sounded loudest. It is quite disappointing.
ReplyDeleteDem go hear am for uk. No job, housing or food plus the ressesion. Owu sa gi!
ReplyDeletelol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol lol
ReplyDeletei laugh in present tense! dem go see fire!
Wrong place and time to run away. UK immigration is not so easy these days and for that reason they will only suffer in the UK because they can not do anything and it wont be long before they turn themselves in.
ReplyDeleteHmmm tell them say i say "welcome to the world of trouble o" the UK of nowadays is quite diffent from the UK of the past whereby you can easily disappear and switch your identity". Please everyone...can we all wish them good luck?
ReplyDeletewaooooh! Let search for greener pasture not lead our beloved africanans to blurrd pasture.They can run but may not b able to hide. Gudluck! anyway.
ReplyDeleteI hope it's not from frying pan to fire for dis athletes. I think it is better they turn themselves in now b4 they are caught. Dem go hear am big! The UK govt is not all that friendly esp to french speaking.
ReplyDeleteI am laughing so hard. This reminds me of my cousin who absconded after travelling with a cultural dance troupe. Nobody tell am!
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