A Ghanaian teenage footballer who spent more than a month on the run and whose disappearance from an international soccer tournament in Scotland sparked a nationwide UK manhunt has finally been found.
After being knocked out of the semi-finals of an international youth tournament in Aberdeen 17-year-old Emanuel Anarfi told stunned team mates he would not be returning with them and took off in search of a new life in the UK.
He said he was heading for the big lights of London to start a new life. However, when the police eventually found him he was staying with relatives in the Midlands.The youth initially fled with another team mate who was swiftly apprehended. Prior to his arrest Emanuel Anarfi was last seen at 1pm on Saturday July 21 at Seaton Park in Aberdeen. It was his second visit to the city with his team Datus Soccer Academy who won last yearÕs under-16 tournament.A spokesman for Aberdeen football club said at the time they hoped Mr Anarfi was found soon as the incident could ruin opportunities for other African players coming in the future.
The rest of the team flew back to Ghana from Gatwick last month.
The disappearance bore similarities to the events of two years ago when eight Zimbabwean footballers vanished after an exhibition match in Bradford. Their disappearance was only realised when they failed to board their planes back to Harare.An official who was left behind to help track down the missing men also vanished without a trace.
Published: 03 September 2007
A Ghanaian teenage footballer who spent more than a month on the run and whose disappearance from an international soccer tournament in Scotland sparked a nationwide UK manhunt has finally been found.
After being knocked out of the semi-finals of an international youth tournament in Aberdeen 17-year-old Emanuel Anarfi told stunned team mates he would not be returning with them and took off in search of a new life in the UK.
He said he was heading for the big lights of London to start a new life. However, when the police eventually found him he was staying with relatives in the Midlands.The youth initially fled with another team mate who was swiftly apprehended. Prior to his arrest Emanuel Anarfi was last seen at 1pm on Saturday July 21 at Seaton Park in Aberdeen. It was his second visit to the city with his team Datus Soccer Academy who won last yearÕs under-16 tournament.A spokesman for Aberdeen football club said at the time they hoped Mr Anarfi was found soon as the incident could ruin opportunities for other African players coming in the future.
The rest of the team flew back to Ghana from Gatwick last month.
The disappearance bore similarities to the events of two years ago when eight Zimbabwean footballers vanished after an exhibition match in Bradford. Their disappearance was only realised when they failed to board their planes back to Harare.An official who was left behind to help track down the missing men also vanished without a trace.
Published: 03 September 2007
