Seven Cameroon athletes go missing

By Tansa Musa | Reuters – (Culled from Yahoo Sports.com)

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.

(Additional reporting by Karolos Grohmann, Editing by Nigel Hunt)

Comments

[DAN]

Inno,

To say I am surprise by the disappearing act is a lie. I am shocked some of them still went back home. The normal operation is to load the team with bribe paying cameroonians hiding under the cover of representing the country for an easy entry to the country and then vanish.

The only thing I will say is cameroonians are not the only ones that do the disappearing act during international outings. Other african countries are also guilty but as always there are whistle blowers to either avoid going to jail so they claim innocence and announce it as a surprise.

Is this not a chance that many will use to leave cameroon?

[Joseph Lah Lo-oh]

Why on earth do you think those athletes would come back to Cameroon for? These are purportedly flag bearers but who are never ever recognised back home. The business with them usually ends with the present outing...and until the next, may be in 2 or 4 years to come. Where are these boys and girls during this gap. Let them navigate their way guys!!!

[kiyong natasha]

why on earth should they return to this corrupt country of ours, you got got your oppotunity sis and bros. thanks for using it well