Gallants team manager shares experience after Libya saga 

Marumo Gallants team manager Rufus Matsena has shared his nightmarish experience after surviving the Libya hostage for the last three weeks. 

Matsena and Gallants’ physiotherapist Dina Dhlomo were detained in Libya for almost three weeks as the DStv Premiership outfit struggled to pay a hotel owner who assisted them book tickets. 

The duo landed safely in South Africa on Monday morning, 10 April 2023. 

The return of the pair came after a successful meeting held last week Thursday involving Gallants,  Dr Elzargha, SAFA, the Libyan embassy in South Africa, South Africa’s ambassador to Tunisia and the now released detained duo, where an agreement was reached for their return home. 

Matsena and Dhlomo are now reunited with their families and breathing a sigh of relief after the whole saga. 

The club held an official press briefing on Tuesday, 11 April, at Hotel Sky in Johannesburg.

‘IT WASN’T EASY’ 

“It wasn’t easy. Remember, the whole idea was to be for a few days to sort out the payments issues. And later, we join the team,” Matsena told the media. 

“But difficult as it might have been, something made it a bit bearable in a fact that we sacrificed for our boys to come back to play in South Africa and stay behind so we can have the system of paying the bills [chairman transferring money to us so that we can pay]. 

“What we did is that I agreed with Mr Dhlomo that whatever happens here, let’s not resist anything or whatsoever. 

“If they say take a picture with me and smile, then let’s do that. I knew that they wanted to create a platform whereby they would force you to take a picture. And take that picture to the South African media or their Facebook pages. So, that people will be under the impression that we are okay.” 

‘WE HAD TO PLAY ALONG’ 

“We had to play along. The problem was that if you wouldn’t, the guy is very temperamental. So, sometimes he would come to you and ask you, ‘Did the chairman say anything about the payment?’ 

“Immediately you say no, then you know the day is not going to be nice. So, for the mere fact that somebody is refusing to give you the travelling documents that maybe in the near future, you will be leaving, that on its own starts creating a lot of fear and questions like why are you refusing? 

“Besides that, we would like to thank everybody for the support that we got from all walks of life,” he added. 

Matsena went on to express his gratitude to the South African media for the good part they played in this saga until they returned safely to the country. 

“To the media, you put it out there for the people to be aware of what’s going on,” Matsena stated. 

“I wouldn’t wish that someone could go through the same thing. Fortunately, we got the ministry and federation. I’m hoping that going forward, things like this can be avoided at all costs.” 

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