Marumo Gallants’ detained officials look set to reunite with their families soon following interventions by the government and SAFA.
The duo have been held as collateral in Benghazi, Libya, after their club failed to settle a bill of R670 000.
Gallants needed help to pay for their flights for a CAF Confederation Cup fixture in the North African country.
PAY ON THEIR BEHALF
The club’s leadership then engaged a Libyan businessman, Dr Ali Elzargha, to pay on their behalf. The agreement was that they would settle the bill upon arriving in Libya.
However, they failed to pay Dr Elzargha. This resulted in the two parties agreeing to have Matsena and Dlhomo used as collateral.
READ: SAFA, government step in to rescue detained Marumo Gallants duo
Exactly 18 days later, Marumo Gallants owner Abram Sello is yet to pay back. The two officials remain holed up in the Libya capital.
Leading football publication FARPost has since reported that there has been a breakthrough in the saga after Thursday’s meeting chaired by the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation.
Marumo Gallants, SAFA, Dr Elzargha, the Libya Embassy in South Africa, South Africa’s Ambassador in Tunisia and the affected two officials were all in attendance.
It has since emerged that half of the money owed has been paid back, while the balance will be settled next week.
MARUMO GALLANTS DUO TO REUNITE
An agreement is in place for the two to receive their passports from Dr Elzargha and fly home on Sunday, 9 April.
“They have already paid 50 per cent of the amount, and they will pay the rest next week,” Dr Elzargha was quoted by FARPost.
“Enough is enough. No human should be here in this situation. Do you understand me? These guys are suffering, and they are also missing their families. I speak from my heart.”
He slammed the Marumo Gallants owner as a bad person for neglecting his employees.
“When these guys were here for 19 days, I paid everything for them. I was like their father; anything they wanted, I went to buy for them from my pocket. I didn’t charge them. Everyone must know that he [Abram Sello] is a bad person, and Dr Ali tried to help as much as he could.”