Cape Town Spurs dismissed me over my son - Surprise Ralani

Ralani joined Spurs in October 2023 on a free transfer, following his Mamelodi Sundowns exit, but was shown the door just six months later. 

Speaking on Metro FM’s Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube, the 37-year-old says it was his decision to send Witbooi to rival club Cape Town City that ultimately cost him his job. 

"When the new coach 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," said Ralani.

"And 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, now at Hungry Lions, added that he was quickly out of favour with coach Ernst Middendorp in the weeks following Witbooi’s move to The Citizens. 

"The coach just mentioned the board was questioning my loyalty to the club, and I also explained to them that straightforward 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."

READ: City’s plan for Emile Witbooi is a European move – Lebogang Manyama