SA's Ralani hits form in Sweden

31 October 2016 - 15:10 By Nick Said

South Africa Bradley ‘Surprise’ Ralani appears to be hitting form at the right time for his Swedish club Helsingborg in their desperate bid to avoid relegation to the second tier. Helsingborg are one of the premier teams in Sweden but this year have fallen on tough times under legendary former Sweden striker Henrik Larsson.Ralani laid on one goal and scored another as they won 4-1 at bottom side Falkenberg.It was a five-star performance from a player who joined Helsingborg mid-season having helped Danish side Lyngby to promotion in the last campaign.“I'm very happy that I could contribute more than what I have done in previous matches‚” Ralani told reporters. “I'm in good shape. Now we just have to keep it up and do everything to help the HIF. It's my job to score in every match.”“We must keep the positive energy we showed into the next game. Positivity‚ positivity‚ positivity throughout. And a belief that we can do it. Then we'll see what happens.”Helsingborg go into next Sunday’s final round of matches in the relegation play-off position‚ which is their best case scenario. They are only two points above Gefle in the second automatic relegation position‚ but do have a better goal-difference.It means just a draw against 12th-placed Jönköpings Södra at home next weekend should be enough to see them finish in the relative safety of the play-off position.But defeat‚ and a win for Gefle at mid-table Östersunds FK would mean a first relegation since they returned to the top-flight in 1992.The club were also relegated in 1968 and were expected to make a swift return to the top-flight. However‚ they would spend the 24 years in the second-tier‚ only returning in the early 1990s.Elsewhere‚ Under-23 international Lebo Mothiba made thebench for the first time at French Ligue 1 side Lille in their clash against heavyweights paris St Germain.It is a huge moment in the career of the 20-year-old‚ even if he did not make it into the pitch in the end. Kermit Erasmus did make it off the bench for Rennes as they won 1-0 at home to Metz. The win moves the club into fifth‚ nine points behind surprise leaders Nice.New Bafana Bafana call-up Lars Veldwijk played the final few minutes off the bench for Belgian side Kortrijk as they won 1-0 at Excelsior Mouscron.Andile Jali remains sidelined at KV Oostende having missed their match in mid-week as well‚ a worry for Bafana Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba as he builds towards the World Cup qualifier with Senegal on November 12.Jali has been beset with injury niggles at the start of this campaign‚ meaning he has just a single game of club football under his belt since May.Ayanda Patosi played the final few minutes for Lokeren in their 2-2 draw at Eupen‚ who had Ntuthuko Radebe on the bench.Dino Ndlovu played for Azerbaijani club Qarabag as they beat AZAL 1-0‚ while Kamohelo Mokotjo featured for Dutch side FC Twente in their 0-0 draw with Roda JC.Bafana discard Tokelo Rantie played the final two minutes for Turkish side Genclerbirligi as they held Besiktas to a 1-1 draw. Rantie had his first start for the club in the Turkish Cup last week‚ but is still searching for his first goal.Zama Rambuwane came on at halftime for Hapoel Ra’anana in their 0-0 draw with MS Ashdod in Israel‚ while Luther Singh played for Swedish second-tier side GAIS in their 1-0 loss to Dalkurd.Players who remain on the sidelines for one reason or another are Mandla Masango (club dispute)‚ Thulani Serero and Bongani Zungu‚ both out of favour.- TMG Sport..

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