Tefu's winning debut, Serero back for Ajax

Tefu Mashamaite made a successful debut in Sweden while Thulani Serero finally appeared in an Ajax Amsterdam jersey this season, albeit for the club's reserves.

Mashamaite endured a long wait for his work permit after joining Swedish side BK Hacken last month, having left Kaizer Chiefs as both the club and South Africa's Player of the Season in 2014-2015.

He made his bow in the 4-1 victory over a Halmstad side that included ex-Amakhosi teammate Matthew Rusike and won praise from coach Peter Gerhardsson.

Mashamaite faces a tough test in his next fixture as Hacken travel to second-placed AIK Stockholm.

Serero played the full 90 minutes for Jong Ajax which, following his exertions with the national side against Mauritania and Senegal, backs up the Bafana Bafana medical team's suggestion he was fit to play contrary to the view of Ajax before those games.

Ajax coach Frank de Boer said last week that Serero remained in his first team's thoughts but that he needed to play more games for the reserves to be considered. He will be relieved to have come through the first hurdle after a frustrating two months on the sidelines.

Serero injured his troublesome ankle in pre-season and sat out most of Ajax's preparations for the new campaign, moving him down the pecking order at the club.

He was the subject of some loan interest in the transfer window, most notably from Greek side PAOK but after initially saying he was free to leave, Ajax changed their minds in the closing weeks of the window.

Serero has been a regular in the last two seasons at the club after initially struggling since his 2011 move from Ajax Cape Town.