Marumo Gallants have given the latest update on the “hostage situation” around two of their staff members, who are still detailed in Libya and are “extremely emotional and exhausted”.
Government officials have become involved in the issue after Gallants’ Media Liaison Officer Rufus Matsena and team physiotherapist Tebogo Amos Dhlomo are still in hotel in Libya over payment issues.
“Efforts are still under way to bring home two Marumo Gallants F.C. staff members detained in Libya over a financial dispute following the team’s CAF Confederation Cup match against Libya’s Al Akhdar on 19 March 2023,” the club stated on Friday.
“A virtual meeting was held yesterday under the mediation of the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) in an attempt to urgently resolve the issue.
“Parties in attendance included the executive management team of Marumo Gallants, the South African Football Association (SAFA), the Libyan embassy in South Africa, South Africa’s ambassador to Tunisia and other relevant officials.
“The Libyan hotel owner, as well as the staff members involved (Matsena and Dhlomo), were also in attendance. Talks and processes are currently underway to settle the matter and bring the PSL club’s employees back home.”
Gallant’s Chairman Abram Sello pleaded for the release of the duo: “My people belong at home here in South Africa with their families, especially over the Easter period. Both men are extremely emotional and exhausted, and need to return to their homes and loved ones.
“I am trying my utmost to get them back to South African soil. This is an active case and a very sensitive one. My priority is to get my employees back safely. We are not ignoring the media – we have to take into account the various factors that influence this matter and act accordingly.
“Our sole focus is on bringing our people back home to South Africa. We ask that the media bear with us during this period and understand the fragility of the situation.
“As we have stated, once the two men are back in the country, we will engage with media and respond to questions around the situation that has transpired.”
Despite Gallants’ struggles around their travels to Libya, which resulted in a 4-1 defeat to Al-Akhdar on match day five, the DStv Premiership side qualified for the quarter-finals of the competition, where they will face Pyramids.
