Surprise Ralani follows in May Mahlangu's footsteps in Sweden

Surprise Ralani made his bow for his new Swedish top-flight side Helsingborg on Sunday‚ following in the footsteps of his good friend May Mahlangu.

Ralani and Mahlangu used to share a flat together when they both first arrived in Sweden‚ with the latter a rising start at Helsingborg and Ralani playing for second-tier Landskrona.

Mahlangu became a cult figure for his team and was named Swedish League Player of the Year in 2011‚ eventually outgrowing the club as he sought a move to a bigger European league‚ one which has yet to materialise.

Ralani‚ who along with Mahlangu hails from Farouk Khan’s Stars of Africa Academy‚ would be delighted with even a fraction of that success after a highly promising career that has been blighted by injury.

He was brought to Helsingborg by his former Landskrona coach‚ Swedish legend Henrik Larrson‚ last week from Danish side Lyngby and despite not playing since last season‚ was given an immediate role off the bench in the 1-1 draw with Tefu Mashamaite’s Hacken.

“It felt good to come in and get a chance to play‚ but it takes some time to get to know the players and the coaches‚” Ralani told reporters after the match.

Ralani had two chances in the game‚ a volley that went well wide and another effort that the Hacken keeper saved.

The winger said he was delighted to be reunited with Larrson at a club that also had Thando Mngomeni on their books a little over a decade ago.

“It’s fantastic. He believes in my talent so I am very happy to have been reunited with him. It can only be good.”

Mashamaite did not make it off the bench in the game‚ a surprise perhaps‚ given that he played and scored in the club’s last match.

Luther Singh did come off the bench for second-tier GAIS as they won 2-1 away at Frej.

Singh has been joined by a new compatriot at the club in the form of defender Ziyaad Basson who takes over from Pule Maraisane‚ the latter having been released.

All three of those are also from the Stars of Africa Academy.

Mandla Masango sat out Randers’ 2-1 win at Aalborg on Sunday‚ a club he has been strongly linked with in the past few weeks.

Masango did not train towards the end of last week‚ with the club admitting he was not injured‚ but rather he did not “feel ready to participate in daily training”.

The 27-year-old wants to leave Randers and Aalborg‚ his favoured destination‚ have already reportedly had one offer turned down.

Lebogang Phiri played for Brondby as they were held to a 2-2 draw by Horsens‚ a hangover perhaps from their UEFA Europa League exploits against German Bundesliga Hertha Berlin last week where they lost 1-0.

The return leg‚ at home‚ of that tie is on Thursday.

Andile Jali missed the opening game of the new Belgian league season for his side KV Oostende as they lost 1-0 at Anele Ngcongca’s Genk.

Jali has been battling with an ankle injury that has seen him miss the entire pre-season so far.

Ngcongca did not play either having been sent to train with the club’s reserves as he seeks a move away from the team‚ where he has fallen out with coach Peter Maes.

Ayanda Patosi played 64 minutes for Lokeren as they lost 1-0 at St Truiden‚ a disappointing start to the campaign for the Bafana winger‚ while Ntuthuko Radebe was on the bench as newly promoted Eupen lost 3-0 at Zulte-Waregem.

Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Phakamani Mngadi was not in the match-day squad for the game.