Before we get upset and before we try to analyze and re-analyze why some
players on the ERITREA national team that traveled to Botswana decided to
remain and ask for political asylum, let us take a deep breath and not get
caught up with the enemy tactics to DEFAME ERITREA! through sports for
purely a political reason. Let us look at the facts. Eritrea was back to
FIFA international play for the first time in almost 4 years. Ranked at
number 202 as a result of past defections, in a two week span of time
utilizing Eritrean players from overseas the team competed well.
Meanwhile, cycling & running victories and accolades have spiraled the
sports fever in Eritrea in recent weeks. There is no doubt that Eritrean
athletics is on a HIGH now. While many good things were happening and we
also witnessed one of the biggest crowds ever at Asmara stadium last
weekend, somebody had to spoil the party.
Enter a group known as ERITREAN MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRACY & HUMAN RIGHTS
(EMDHR) who have been waiting to capitalize on a situation similar to this.
What made it even better for them was the fact that this game was right in
their backyard not too far away from South Africa where they are based out
of Pretoria. While 24 members of the 34 delegation returned back some who
make their homes outside of Eritrea, the 10 players urged by the network of
organizations have decided to remain in Botswana.
According to a prominent lawyer from Botswana who usually engages in
litigation's against Govt. officials by the name of Dick Bayford, "I have
been engaged by the movement to assist in keeping the football players in
the country after they received reports that there was an attempt to
forcibly remove the players from Botswana," The so called opposition Human
rights organization created in South Africa and wanting change in Eritrea
seem to think that because 10 players defected the country is in uproar and
we have serious problems. However they don't know Eritrea. What makes it
even worse is that the lies such lawyers who claim to be human rights
lawyers say to make money. He will get his share from the criminals.
Bayford's audacity to claim that the EMDHR was worried that the players,
who are said to be part of the Eritrean army, are likely to be charged with
desertion if they are sent back to Eritrea, which is punishable by death.
Pure fabrication but strong evidence for Mr. Lawyer!
Defections are not new. Even as recent as this past summer members of the
Cuban national soccer team had defected to the USA during the Gold Cup
Tournament. Only difference is that these athletes know automatically they
will be granted asylum as the USA allows Cuban athletes to defect because
the so-called "wet foot, dry foot" US policy is still in effect. The rule
stipulates that a Cuban who sets foot on US soil is allowed to stay.
As you can see on the picture below the nucleus of the team is still there
along with many other players. To those that defected the sad part of it is
that you are using the Eritrean national team to send a political agenda
that allows failed organizations like the EMDHR to gain propaganda points.
Meanwhile I am of the belief that players from all parts of the country
should be chosen for the national team. The top teams in Eritrea's premier
league had a nucleus of the local players on this team but the ENFF must do
everything it can to choose players who care about representing their FLAG!
Just like Henok and the other players playing outside of ERITREA the
passion for the game and the responsibility to represent ERITREA should
always be there.
Good Luck to the national team in the future. We will build our program
together as a nation. A clear indication was on Saturday when thousands and
thousands of fans showed that no matter what ERITREA will always shine in
sports.
For Eri-international sports.
Mike Seium
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Posted By Eri-International Sports Comments to Eri-International Sports at
10/14/2015 01:49:00 PM
Received on Wed Oct 14 2015 - 16:49:04 EDT