Three delegates from the Gambian participants in the Commonwealth Games held in Australia have absconded, a source close to the story has informed Kerr Fatou.
Two coaches, Modou Njie and Joko Colley, and athlete Abdullah Hassim, have reportedly abandoned their team and refused to return after the games.
“The story is true,” confirmed Dodou Capi Joof, president of the Gambia National Olympic Committee who also led the Gambian delegates to Australia.
The games have wrapped up on Sunday and the Gambian team has not won anything. However, Gambia’s outstanding lady sprinter Gina Bass has gone to semis on a 100 meters race.
The Australian authorities have given the delegates 12 days visa to stay in their country, after which they may face expulsion.
It is not clear what the fate of the three Gambians might be. Stories of Gambians absconding after attending international sporting events are not hard to come by.
One Saraba Colley absconded in London after attending the Olympics games in 2012.
By Mustapha K Darboe