Mar 14, 2006, 11:34 PST
Four football (soccer) players for Red Sea, Eritrea’s champion team which was playing against Kenya’s Tuskar team, have evaded Eritrean government escorts and defected to Kenya. The players are Rusom “Ejion” Teweldemedhin, Ali “Alitay” Jaber, Dawit “Chakur” Weldegebriel and Yukuno.
To discourage defections, the Eritrean government has instituted a policy of requiring all traveling athletes to post a 100,000 Nkf (6,700 USD) bond prior to leaving and to remain in the company of the official entourage while overseas.
The Eritrean Sports Commission is managed by military officers or veterans of the EPLF like Ghirmay “Cheru” Hadgu and Beyene Russom and athletes who do not meet the standards of the military discipline of their trainers are constantly threatened with a trip to Sawa, a military boot camp.
The defections are the latest in a series which have resulted in weakening Eritrea’s athletic strength and have affected all sports sectors including football, sprinters, cyclists and coaches.
Background
Football players who have defected include Fassil Abraha, Efrem “Kruf”, Leul Medhanie, Robel Yosief, Robel Keleta, Yemane Henok, and Wedi Mahari.
Sprinters who did not return from their overseas travel include Tesfit, Rembo, Nebay Habte, Teklemariam Merid, Furtnato Yakob, Smret Asmerom, Tekle Mengesteab, Lemlem Bereket and Girmay Woldu.
Even cyclists who rarely travel overseas have been affected; Dawit Mehari, arguably Eritrea’s best cyclist, absconded from the tight security entourage several years ago.
Ghirmay Abraha, coach for Eritrea’s National Team and the trainer who had elevated Red Sea to championship status playing Ismailia and Costa Del Sol, has also defected.
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