Cape Town - The Marumo Gallants officials Rufus Matsena and Tebogo Dhlomo returned to South Africa on Monday after spending three weeks in Libya.
The two officials did not return home after Marumo Gallants played a Caf Confederation Cup match in Libya three weeks ago. They were held at a Libyan hotel because Marumo Gallants were unable to pay their bills.
Last Thursday, the department of international relations and cooperation (Dirco) and other role players brokered a settlement afterwards it was agreed that the officials could return home. They flew out from Libya on Sunday.
On arrival, Matsena, a media liaison for Marumo Gallants, said in a video on GOAL.com SAโs Twitter page that they were delighted to be back safely at home after three stressful weeks in Libya.
"Yes, we are absolutely delighted to be back safely at home again," said Matsena. "You cannot place a price on the feeling that we have now that we're home again.
โWe are very excited, but more will be said about our time in Libya at a press conference tomorrow (on Tuesday).โ
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐โผ๏ธpic.twitter.com/nAtePca3JF
— GOAL South Africa (@GOALcomSA) April 10, 2023
Just ahead of their departure from Libya, Marumo Gallants released a statement confirming their return.
โTwo Marumo Gallants FC staff members (Matsena and Dhlomo) who were detained in Libya following the teamโs Caf Confederation Cup match against Libyaโs Al Akhdar on 19 March 2023 are finally set to return home,โ the statement read.
โThis comes after a mediation meeting held on Thursday with relevant officials and representatives from various organisations.
โClub management has confirmed that the travel documents for the two employees have been returned and that both Matsena and Dhlomo are ready for their much-awaited return to their country and families. They will be landing in Johannesburg over the course of the current long weekend.โ
@Herman_Gibbs