Dirco steps in as Libyan hotel owner insists on holding Gallants pair hostage

Media officer Rufus Matsena and physiotherapist Tebogo Dlomo are still in North Africa – more than two weeks after Gallants’ Caf Confederation Cup group stage fixture against Al Khdar in Benghazi and losing 4-1. 

The owner of the hotel where Dirco believes the pair are being detained is adamant Matsena and Dlomo are safe, but will not allow them to leave the country before he is paid USD 37000 (around R650 000) by Sello. 

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with host Andile Ncube to explain the situation Dr Ali Elzargha gave his side of the story.  

Elzargha claims he helped the DStv Premiership side travel to Benghazi for the match, bought them a kit when theirs got lost in transit via Turkey and accommodated them at his hotel, but did not get paid.  

“I want to say I am not holding anybody hostage – they are here as part of the agreement between myself, the chairman and Mr Rufus,” he said. 

“They have internet, they have food, staying in two big suites and they have their freedom. People are trying to change the story to make it a criminal element. I am here, and I have done interviews with journalists, I am not a terrorist but an owner of three hotels. It’s not good to use such words as holding hostage, that’s not the case.” 

Dirco’s head of diplomacy, Clayson Monyela, confirmed the department was in the process of reaching out to the Libyan authorities to get the two Gallants officials home. 

“We have an agreement, the guys are staying here until I get my money. The chairman [Sello] asked me to let the team go because they had another match in a few days but told me to hold the two guys until he sends the money. But now he is breaking the trust – the transfer of the money is a few minutes away from any laptop. No one has been able to speak to him over the last few days, even the two guys here.” Elzargha insisted. 

Gallants have progressed to the quarterfinals of the Confederation Cup after finishing top of their group and only broke their silence in a statement on Monday night.