Ten days since their chaotic trip to Libya, FARPost has been made to understand that a Marumo Gallants duo is being held hostage in Benghazi, Libya.
Marumo lost 4-1 to Al Akhdar in a CAF Confederation Cup Group A match at Beninah Stadium on Sunday, 19 March.
CHAOTIC CAF TRIP
Despite making history and qualifying for the quarterfinals, they played the match with 14 players. They had only three players on the bench [two on-field and one goalkeeper].
This is after four of their players could not pass through Istanbul, Turkey, due to flight complications. Gallants also played with an unusual Adidas kit instead of their usual Monflair Green kit.
This publication gathered that the kit was also left with the luggage in Turkey. The club had to drive straight from the airport to the stadium to avoid being late for the match. The match was rescheduled from 15:00 to 19:00 kickoff time.
TEAM OFFICIALS STRANDED IN LIBYA
The latest reaching FARPost is that the club’s Team Manager, Rufus Matsena, and therapist Dina Dhlomo are still stranded in Benghazi. The rest of the team returned to South Africa four days after the match, but the pair are facing challenges.
This publication has also gathered that the two officials could be held in Libya due to a dispute regarding some accommodation payments where the club was based during their recent trip to that country.
According to some senior players at the club, the hotel owner wanted the whole team’s plane tickets cancelled until the club paid for the accommodation.
But after some negotiations, the whole team was allowed to fly back. However, that was on condition that the two officials remained until the debt was settled. This means the two officials could miss Sunday’s Confederation Cup clash against Saint Eloi Lupopo.
Efforts to reach the club for a comment proved to be fruitless.
MARUMO GALLANTS BACK IN ACTION
Marumo will host Eloi Lupopo in the last group match of the Confederation Cup at Dobsonville Stadium. They have already sealed their place in the last eight. Three days later, they will return to league action, where they have to fight for their DStv Premiership status.
RELATED STORY: What led to Marumo’s bizarre kit situation, change of kickoff time
