Newly signed Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners has revealed that he never struggled at SuperSport United but he was played out of position, after joining the club on a free transfer in 2020.  

The Bafana international recently completed a move to the Brazilians from Stellenbosch FC after his release clause was triggered following an impressive 2023/24 season with the Cape Winelands outfit, including lifting the Carling Knockout.  

Rayners scored 17 goals and provided eight assists in 39 appearances across all competitions. His goal-scoring prowess saw him compete for the Lesley Manyathela golden boot, which was eventually won by Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa with 16 goals, one more than Rayners.  

However, all this comes after the 28-year-old talisman redeemed himself in the wake of a disappointing spell at SuperSport.  

Now, he has revealed that a positional change limited his contribution to the club, despite not taking issue with it.  

“Yeah, I enjoyed it [playing as a winger], because the way we want to play and the way the coaches want to play, you need to adapt to certain things,” Rayners said on the club’s pitch-side podcast.  

“So, for me, it was good playing on the wing. But I never played as a no.9. Coach Manqoba Mngqithi also wants me to play different roles, he always tells me what he wants from me, so I’ll do what he asks me to help the team.”  

The Cape Town-born forward says he wanted to see out his contract with Matsatsantsa but was deemed surplus to requirements with the Tshwane club keen to bolster their squad with different players.  

“For me, I wanted to stay at SuperSport because I had another two seasons left on my contract, but the technical team and whoever wanted to bring other players, so I had to make space for what they want,” he said.  

“When I left SuperSport, I was a bit sad but, in my mind, I told myself, ‘Go to Stellenbosch, work harder, and get more goals in my first season and from there I will start building my confidence again.”  

Rayners, who has scored two goals in four caps for Bafana Bafana after making his debut in July 2023, insists his time with the Spartans wasn’t a failure, citing he was playing out of position.  

“People say I struggled at SuperSport, I never struggled, I was just not playing as a no.9, and the coaches wanted me to play differently, so for me you need to adapt to whatever position they give you,” the Downs striker stated.  

Sundowns will battle Stellenbosch for a place in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Sunday (15h00) after losing the first leg of the semifinal tie 1-0 on Wednesday, but their recruit is not eligible to feature as he is cup-tied after playing in Stellies’ 3-1 win over TS Galaxy. 

Article by Trevor Magoro