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| Sunday, 19 September 2004 |
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Handball tour pretext to enter Germany by a staff reporter An official of the Sri Lankan handball team, who went missing in Germany, had picked the team from young men who simply wanted to get into Europe and collected several millions from the players to bring them to greener pastures in Europe, the Sunday Observer learns. An investigation by the Sunday Observer into the 'episode' revealed that 20 players had paid three hundred thousand rupees each to a team official to join the tour. The tour organised by the German Sports Exchange fully funded by the hosts. He could not confirm whether the money went directly to the Manager or was shared by some other officials. "The manager assured the team members a safe and legal entry to Germany and also a temporary refuge till the boys plan their next step", he said. The entire 23 member team including the manager and the coach disappeared a few days after their arrival in Germany to play a friendly match series with some local clubs. Inquiries reveal the offers of a safe entry to Europe were made by certain officials of a sports club in Katunayake early this year after the club received a tour invitation by a local sports club in Germany. The team was picked up from boys who were ready to become economic refuges in Germany. A spokeswoman of the host club in Germany was quoted as saying the performance of the team was poor throughout the tournament. Meanwhile, the Sports Ministry said the trip was not authorised, nor was the Sports Ministry informed of such a tour. "We are puzzled and confused by the entire episode," Secretary of the Sports Ministry S. Ranuge said. "There is no national handball team or even a registered club," he said. He said if a national team is touring overseas, the approval should come from the Ministry. "This is a private tour. We have nothing to do with this," he said. Meanwhile, BBC quoted an official of the German Sports Exchange as saying the team members have crossed over to Italy. |
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