April 4 – Two South African club officials held in Libya for more than two weeks over unpaid bills will not be allowed to travel home until the debt is settled.
Rufus Matsena and Dina Dhlomo of Premier Division side Marumo Gallants were kept back in Libya after the club failed to settle their hotel bill and other expenses incurred when they travelled for an African Confederation Cup tie in Benghazi on March 19.
They were not allowed to leave the hotel while the club still owed the establishment money, according to Reuters.
In a statement on Monday, Gallants said they were negotiating a settlement over what they termed a “financial dispute”. It is reported the club owe the hotel $39,000.
“Marumo Gallants management are in contact with the two employees, who have confirmed that they are safe and waiting for the matter to be settled,” the club said on Monday.
The trip to Libya last month was described as a “nightmare” by the club’s English coach Dylan Kerr, including three days holed up in transit in Istanbul while waiting for onward tickets to Libya to be bought.
South African authorities are set to meet the Libyan ambassador to the country as part of escalating diplomatic pressure to get the pair released.
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