LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

SURPRISE RALANI IS A TOP TALENT IN THE LOCAL GAME, AND HIS SON EMILE WITBOOI COULD BE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH AFRICAN FOOTBALL

- Dylan Appolis

Surprise Ralani has experienced it all in his career, from playing in Europe to returning home and featuring in South Africa's top flight, and his legacy is being carried on by his son, Emile Witbooi, who has the potential to take local football by storm.

Kimberley-born attacker Ralani graduated from Farouk Khan's Stars of Africa Academy in 2009 before departing South Africa for Sweden without playing in the local league.

He spent most of his career in Sweden after joining Helsingborgs, including time on loan playing for IFK Hässleholm and Landskrona Bols, and for Lyngby BK in Denmark, in his nine years in Europe.

He later returned home for his first stint in South Africa's top flight when he joined Cape Town City during the January transfer window for the remainder of the 2017-18 PSL season.

The winger went on to spend four years at the club and feature 118 times for The Citizens, scoring 16 goals and registering 27 assists while helping them clinch the 2018 MTN8 title under coach Benni McCarthy.

His impressive performances saw Ralani being picked up by Mamelodi Sundowns, where he spent the next 18 months, winning three trophies, including a pair of league titles as well as the Nedbank Cup, in addition to contributing to nine goals in just 29 appearances for the Brazilians.