Marumo Gallants Working Overtime to Ensure Return of "Hostages" From Libya

• Marumo Gallants has been involved in a captivating sideshow amid their excellent CAF Confederations Cup run and poor showing in the DStv Premiership
• Two of the club's staff members are currently being held hostage in Libya over a pay dispute with a hotel
• The club is being assisted by the South African government in bringing the two people home

Marumo Gallants' media liaison Rufus Matsena and team physiotherapist Tebogo Amos Dhlomo find themselves as hostages in Libya following their CAF Confederations Cup travels.

They are the unwilling 'guests' of one Dr Ali Elzargha, whose hotel is reportedly owed money by the team as it scrambles to raise the funds. Matsena and Dlomo have been held hostage since 19 March, when the rest of the team returned to South Africa following a 4-1 loss to Al Akhdar.

According to IOL, a media statement from the club read:

Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize thrilled by Royal AM Ladies upsetting Mamelodi Sundowns

Football

“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."

iDiski Times reported that Gallants chairman said that the two men were emotional and mentally exhausted and that everything was being done to bring them home.

Gallants and Royal AM players fight

Elsewhere, Sports Brief reported on how Gallants defeated Royal AM 3-1 in an entertaining DStv Premiership match.

The match descended into chaos deep into the encounter as tempers frayed. A video showed a shoving match occurring on the touchline in front of the Gallants' bench, with Royal Am's Thabo Matlaba seemingly being the source of the fracas.

Thwhihli Thwahla owner Shauwn 'MaMkhize' Mkhize and her entourage, including security staff, were seen getting involved in the ugly scenes. For his troubles, Matlaba was shown a yellow card, meaning that he would miss the next match. Gallants' substitutes, Sibusiso Sibeko and Edgar Manaka, on the other hand, were shown red cards.