Nine members of the Eritrean National Football team, including the head coach Mr Omer Ahmed and team captain Haile Goitom abandon the dictatorial regime in Eritrea seeking political asylum in Kenya.

Two of them confirmed to demo.archive.assenna.com on the phone about their decision not to go back home to Eritrea. Samson was not able to continue his conversation, while another player who didn’t consent his name to be made public said “the endless national service, extreme repression and lack of freedom” was the main reason for his decision.

The Eritrean National Football team has been to Kenya to participate in the regional annual Cecafa competition.

Although the regime tried its best to minimize defection by calling many Eritrean semi and non professional players from abroad into the team, it couldn’t escape the embarrassment it faced for several times.

Two of the payers have been in hiding before the completion of the tournament, while the remaining 7 have just followed them.

12 members of the Eritrean national team have defected last year in Uganda, after participating in similar regional tournament. Almost all Red Sea football club players have also done the same prior to that.