Ugandan cricketers absent, not missing
Sep 17, 2009
<br>CANADIAN police have suspended the search for the six cricketers who went missing after the team’s participation in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier saying they have the legal right to stay in Canada as long as their visas are valid.
By Charles Mutebi
& Phillip Corry
CANADIAN police have suspended the search for the six cricketers who went missing after the team’s participation in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier saying they have the legal right to stay in Canada as long as their visas are valid.
Uganda cricket body UCA and its continental counterpart ACA had requested Canadian authorities to look for and repatriate the six, who run away early Saturday from Delta Hotel, where the team was residing.
However, York regional police have stopped the search after establishing that Ahmed Yakoub, Emmanuel Nakaana, Geoffrey Nyero, Moses Okwera, Andrew Ochan and Ahmed Sangau have committed no offence in staying in Canada.
Canada’s National Post yesterday quoted Constable Marina Orlovski saying the players are well within their rights and there was subsequently no need to look for them.
Orloviski explained: “Through that investigation we’ve determined that no criminal offence has occurred, that there are no safety concerns for those players, that they are actually here on a six-month visa. Realistically, for six months, they’ve got that opportunity to do whatever they want.â€
However, Orloviski’s statement on the duration of the players’ visa contradicts the UCA, who say the players only had one month visas.
Ontario branch of citizenship and immigration official said any athlete participating internationally in the country could claim asylum.
The six players represented Uganda in the World Cup Qualifier September 1-13.
& Phillip Corry
CANADIAN police have suspended the search for the six cricketers who went missing after the team’s participation in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier saying they have the legal right to stay in Canada as long as their visas are valid.
Uganda cricket body UCA and its continental counterpart ACA had requested Canadian authorities to look for and repatriate the six, who run away early Saturday from Delta Hotel, where the team was residing.
However, York regional police have stopped the search after establishing that Ahmed Yakoub, Emmanuel Nakaana, Geoffrey Nyero, Moses Okwera, Andrew Ochan and Ahmed Sangau have committed no offence in staying in Canada.
Canada’s National Post yesterday quoted Constable Marina Orlovski saying the players are well within their rights and there was subsequently no need to look for them.
Orloviski explained: “Through that investigation we’ve determined that no criminal offence has occurred, that there are no safety concerns for those players, that they are actually here on a six-month visa. Realistically, for six months, they’ve got that opportunity to do whatever they want.â€
However, Orloviski’s statement on the duration of the players’ visa contradicts the UCA, who say the players only had one month visas.
Ontario branch of citizenship and immigration official said any athlete participating internationally in the country could claim asylum.
The six players represented Uganda in the World Cup Qualifier September 1-13.