Ex-Mamelodi Sundowns winger Surprise Ralani recalls being axed because of son Emile Witbooi - 'The management was unhappy he signed for rival team'

Surprise Ralani is one of the players who enjoyed his football domestically and abroad.

After his term with Swedish outfit Helsingborgs IF concluded in 2017, he returned home and joined Cape Town City before moving to Mamelodi Sundowns in the 2022/23 season.

Masandawana deemed him surplus to requirements and dropped him, paving way for Cape Town Spurs to sign him for the 2023/24 season.

However, he was dropped six months later despite his regular role in midfield.

Prior to his contract termination, Ralani had played 14 games for the Urban Warriors who ended up getting relegated after their struggles in the Premier Soccer League.

In his recent interview with Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified, Ralani has now claimed he was ditched because his son Emile Witbooi joined Cape Town City.

"When the new coach [Ernst Middendorp] came in, I was still there, I actually played the first few games under him before I got released, but there was a little bit of a situation when there was a rumour about my son signing for Cape Town City," the 37-year-old stated.

"The management was not happy, so they had a meeting about it and stuff like that, and one day the coach called a senior players' meeting, there were five senior players, and I was included.

"Out of the blue, the coach mentioned how the board is not happy with my son being at Cape Town City, but I'm playing for Spurs," Ralani recalled.

"The coach just mentioned the board was questioning my loyalty to the club, and I also explained to them straightforwardly that, 'You didn't even know I had a son that's playing football, and just because it was Cape Town City, now suddenly there's a problem.'

"Until they found out Emile was my son and he signed for Cape Town City, before that, there was never a problem with me and my loyalty to the club, or my input at training or on match days," he concluded. 

Ralani is currently playing in the second tier with Hungry Lions, hoping to inspire them to the Premier Soccer League.

The 16-year-old Emile Witbooi has not yet made a senior team appearance for the Citizens, but with his talent and pedigree, he is undoubtedly destined for greater things.