Kenyan police step up search for missing Eritrean footballers

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By Andrew Warshaw
December 3 – Kenyan police are stepping up their search for two Eritrean footballers who went missing during the regional Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup, reputed to be the oldest football tournament in Africa.

According to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) the duo could not be traced after watching the hosts play Zanzibar.
”It’s true two Eritrean players have escaped from camp since Saturday and they have not been found yet. We are having a meeting with Cecafa organisers to determine what action will be taken against the team,” said FKF technical committee chairman Elly Mukolwe.

It is expected the two, who are yet to be identified, may seek asylum in what is becoming a common ritual for desperate Eritrean players.

Last February, 15 who had disappeared whilst playing in another regional tournament were granted asylum in Uganda. And 18 months before that, 13 players from an Eritrean club side sought refuge in Tanzania.

Thousands of Eritreans attempt to flee their country each year to escape one of the world’s most brutal, repressive regimes. The United Nations has accused the government of summary executions, torture and detaining thousands of political prisoners.

In 2009, when the Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup tournament was last held in Kenya, 12 out of 25 members of the Eritrean national squad also disappeared after losing in the quarterfinals to Tanzania and were later reported to have possibly found save havens elsewhere.

“This is an unfortunate incident happening again and it is causing a lot of concern to the East and Central Africa football officials,” Nicholas Musonye, secretary general of East and Central Africa Football Association, told Reuters.

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