Surprise U-Turn: Ralani Training with Betway Premiership Club in Pursuit of Contract

Despite previously hinting at retirement from professional football, former Cape Town Spurs midfielder Surprise Bradley Ralani is currently undergoing assessment at Orbit College as he looks to secure a potential deal.

Sources close to the North West-based club have confirmed that the 38-year-old has been training with the team for the past two weeks. According to Laduma, head coach Pogiso Makhoye is impressed with what he has seen so far.

“It’s a surprise. I’m giving you the name, but you didn’t listen to me. I said Surprise Ralani. He’s been with us for the past two weeks now,” the source told Soccer Laduma.

Coach Makhoye also confirmed Ralani’s presence in training and revealed that the club is considering signing him, especially now that several injured players have returned.

“Yes, we are looking at him. We’re also happy that the injured players are back. We had about six players out, and now they’ve all returned,” Makhoye explained.

Ralani, born in Kimberley, enjoyed a successful career in Europe with Helsingborgs IF, Lyngby Boldklub, and Landskrona BoIS, before returning home to play for Cape Town City, Mamelodi Sundowns, and Cape Town Spurs in the Betway Premiership. He hinted at retirement during a radio interview with Andile Ncube.

Following his retirement announcement, Ralani took up the role of head coach at Gaza United in the Northern Cape ABC Motsepe League and was expected to guide the career of his son, Emile Witbooi, a rising star with Cape Town City and the SA U17 national team.

If he seals a return to playing, Ralani will add to his impressive record of more than 130 Betway Premiership appearances, with 27 goals and 16 assists to his name.