Ten handball players from Burundi at the age of 17 disappeared in Croatia, where they were supposed to compete in the world junior championship.
The young players were reportedly last seen going in an unknown direction after leaving the student centre in Rijeka, where they were housed during the championship on the afternoon of 9th August.
Afterwards, none of them were answering their phones and every trace of them was lost.
The Burundi nationals were supposed to participate in the World Cadet Handball Championship hosted by Croatia from 2nd to 13th August.
Police said they are doing everything they can to locate them.
The Croatian Handball Federation said in a statement: “As the organiser of the World Handball Championship for Men in the U-19 category, we can confirm that before the match against Bahrain, ten representatives of the national team of the African country of Burundi left the Susak campus where they were accommodated, without the knowledge of their team’s coaching staff and in an unknown direction.
“Despite the observance of the highest security standards, in accordance with the assessment of the Ministry of the Interior, and with adequate police presence, security personnel, and guards, the representatives of the state of Burundi decided to leave the competition and head in an, as of now, unknown direction.”
The president of the handball association of Burundi, Dauphin Nikobamye, said: “We are in shock.
“Both the Association and the parents of these young players are asking everyone who is able to help us.
“I don’t know how we will return home without them.”
The details of their disappearance are currently unclear but local media alleged they might have seized the chance to run away and seek asylum in Europe with their visas.
The match between the national teams of Burundi and Bahrain, which was supposed to be played on 10th August, was cancelled.
Judges formally ruled a forfeit of Burundi’s national team, noting a 10:0 victory for Bahrain.
