Despite the sudden change of form by Limpopo PSL club Marumo Gallants, their off-field problems are far from over as players threaten to strike.
The club has secured R6,49 million for qualification into the CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinals. A historic milestone for the club which was formed merely three years ago.
Also read: Limpopo duo held hostage for three weeks in Libya released
They also stand a chance of increasing their earnings to R8,3 million for reaching the semifinals R11,59 million as runners-up, and R23,18 million if they win the Cup.
The club was recently faced with an embarrassing situation following their penultimate Confederation Cup Group stage game against Al Akhdar. Two of their officials, Rufus Matsena and Amos Dhlomo were held hostage for three weeks due to money owed to a Libyan businessman named Dr Ali Elzargha.
After intervention from the South African government, the pair were released and landed in the country on Monday. The club is set to have a media gathering on Tuesday at 10am to address the ordeal.
But there are just more issues haunting the club recently. This is after LC has been reliably informed of an intention to strike by the club’s players over unpaid bonuses. Club owner Abram Sello is believed to have promised the players bonuses if they qualify for the group stages. But according to our informant, Sello has been running away from the players since their return from Libya.
The Limpopo club players reportedly held an urgent meeting on Tuesday, 27 March at the club’s training ground in Polokwane. In that meeting, they demanded that Sello come and address them on the issue.
“Re a raloka mara re bolaya ke tlala (We are playing but we are also dying of hunger here,” said an informant.
Player strike looming from Marumo Gallants camp
The source says the players have now threatened to boycott the CAF match against Egyptian club Pyramids if the issue is not addressed.
“The owner has been avoiding us for a long time now and we can’t take it anymore. It promises after promise but nothing happens.”
The players have demanded that an agreement be written down before they can travel to Cairo. This is the third time that the club and Sello are embroiled in bonuses issues. The first was when they won the 2020 Nedbank Cup when Sello promised them half of the prize money. But to this day nothing has been paid.
The club has not been engaging the media and promised to address issues at their long awaited media briefing on Tuesday.
By Khotso Ramalatswa
