The National Security Service detained last week two players of the South Sudanese national football team and released them today, according to sources in the capital Juba.

The two players, James Joseph and Isaac Mataya, were held without charge for more than 24 hours, the legal maximum for how long authorities can detain a person without taking him before a judge or prosecutor.

Although the security personnel did not bring formal charges against the two players, sources suggested that their case was related to a contract dispute involving another player.

The third player, Sharif Sheibun, is a Sudanese who had played with the Mareikh youth team and was considered a promising candidate for the Merreikh main squad. But he was reportedly also being sought by Hilal FC, the archrival of Merreikh.

For reasons that are unclear, Sheibun recently left Sudan for Juba where he planned to play for Malakia FC for a period of six months before returning to play in the Sudanese league.

Last week he disappeared from his residence in Juba, and is suspected of having returned back to Sudan. Security personnel arrested the two Bright Star players shortly after his disappearance.

Sheibun's case may stem from rivalry between Hilal and Mareikh, which is owned by Ashraf Ahmed 'Al Cardinal', a Sudanese with business connections to President Salva Kiir.

A sports official today said that security personnel have completed final procedures for the release. He said the health of the two national team players deteriorated owing to their detention.  

The head of the South Sudanese national football association declined to comment on the case, saying he had no information.