Gambian Young Sprinter Absconds From Canada Commonwealth Tournament

By Staff Reporter Bakary Gibba, Banjul

Sports officials in The Gambia say one of its athletes, who participated on the World athletics championship held in Canada has absconded.  Modou Lamin Kujabi, who goes with the aliases Inter was alleged to have absconded shortly after the tournament. He represented Gambia at the Canada tournament.  Kujabi was among the athletes who took part in the African Commonwealth games.

Hopes were dashed when sports officials in Banjul organized a welcoming ceremony for The Gambian famous Sprinter, when news reaches them that Mr. Kujabi had in fact absconded. Officials are still nursing the trauma they suffered from Kujabi’s absconding.

The Secretary General of The Gambia Athletes Association Alhagi Dodou Capi Joof, upon his return from a Nairobi trip described Mr. Kujabi’s absconding as regrettable and shocking.

Mr. Kujabbi was expected to return home on Tuesday August 27, 2010, but he was nowhere to be seen. He performs exceedingly well at the Canada youth African Commonwealth games.

Prior to his departure from the country, Kujabi in an interview with local reporters promised that he would return home after the event saying that there is no place like home. He said he loved the country and would never betray his people as well as officials of the GAA.

Sports officials said Kujabi was picked up by his brother residing in the United States shortly after the games. He travelled through the Canada/US border. Mr. Kujabi has since resettled in the US.

The absconding of Gambian athletes is becoming a common feature in the West African country.  Fatou Tiyanna, a female sprinter also absconded shortly after the Berlin tournament, sources said.

Meanwhile, sports officials here convened a meeting to discuss Mr. Kujabi’s absconding. Kujabi could not be reached for immediate comments.