Fresh facts emerged today, as Five Olympic boxers from Cameroon who disappeared during the London Olympic Games say they did so not do for so as to pursue economic prospects like many believe, they stated that they wanted to remain in Britain to develop their careers.
Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomowere, are among seven athletes from the African nation who have disappeared.
But at a meeting with reporters in a secret location they claimed they want to stay put in the UK not for economic reasons but because there is no support for athletes in their home country.
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| Flyweight boxer Thomas Essomba, who was beaten by Ireland’s Paddy Barnes, is one of the absconded boxers |
The boxers, who have a visa to stay in the UK until November, claim Olympic officials from their country had treated them badly and the amount they were promised in bonuses had been halved.
Mendouo said officials had asked them to hand over their passports after their fights and tried to send them home before the Games had finished.
In a BBC interview, Mendouo said they decided to fight ‘as we are fighters’ and said the group was looking for a sponsor to back them and secure long-term residency.
He said: ‘We want to become professional. We cannot return to Cameroon… if we return, we will not practise anymore.’
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| The seven – who are members of Cameroon’s Olympic team pictured during the opening ceremony – claim they want to stay in Britain to practice the sport that they love and not for economic reaso |
However, head of the Cameroon delegation to the Olympics, David Ojong, refuted the allegations and claimed last week that the seven sportsmen had left to stay in Europe for economic reasons
The five boxers all disappeared after being eliminated from the games last Sunday.
Reserve women’s goalkeeper, Drusille Ngako, who was not one of the 18 included in the final squad for the Olympics, went missing shortly before Cameroon’s last friendly match.
Whilst her team-mates left for Coventry for their game against New Zealand, she vanished.
A few days later, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue and his personal belongings were also not found in his room.
International Olympic Committee officials said last week they had not been notified about the missing athletes.
The disappearances are not the first time Cameroonian athletes have gone missing during international sports competitions.
At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games events, as well as at junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent.
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