Former Mamelodi Sundowns star Bradley 'Surprise' Ralani has opened up a move to Orlando Pirates and how it never materialised.
The silky midfielder is on the books of Hungry Lions in the Motsepe Foundation Championship after his exit from Cape Town Spurs. at 37, Ralani is in the twilight years of his career.
He spent most of his career abroad playing mostly in Sweden and Denmark before his return to South Africa, where he joined Cape Town City in 2018.
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Impressing with the Citizens, it came as little surprise when he joined Mamelodi Sundowns in 2022 and went on to win two league tittles.
However, Ralani has revealed that he very nearly joined the Buccaneers instead of Cape Town City on his return to South Africa, so much so that he had even discussed the move with club chairman Irvin Khoza.
At the time though, Pirates had sent a budding Thembinkosi Lorch out on loan at Chippa United and the exciting young midfielder had hit top form in his second season on loan with the Chilli Boys and ultimately, Pirates decided to recall Lorch instead of signing Ralani in 2018.
"I spoke to the chairman, [Dr] Irvin Khoza, in person, but the move to Pirates never materialized," Ralani revealed on Sports Night Amplified.
"During the last six months, Lorch was on form at Chippa and was younger than me and they decided to go with him."
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The pair only narrowly missed out on being teammates, as Ralani left Sundowns in July 2023 and Lorch joined the Brazilians just months later, in January of the following year.