Iqraam Rayners has set his sights on a struggling Kaizer Chiefs after starring in SuperSport United's Tshwane derby triumph over Mamelodi Sundowns earlier this month.
Having overcome the injury struggles that plagued him over the course of the last two seasons, SuperSport United forward Iqraam Rayners is enjoying perhaps his best run of form since joining the club in 2020 and currently ranks as the DStv Premiership's most creative player.
The former Stellenbosch FC star has recorded four assists in the league – at least twice as many as any other player in the competition this season – which included two in a Man of the Match performance during his side's recent 2-1 win over reigning champions Mamelodi Sundowns.
READ | Pirates midfielder joins SuperSport United on loan
"We took a lot of confidence from that game because we knew it wasn't going to be easy," Rayners tells KICK OFF. "We knew Sundowns liked to play from behind, so we were just dropping off and getting them on the counterattack.
"The week before when we played against them in the MTN8 quarter-final, it was not an easy game, but we had a game plan to take them on in the wide areas and put the crosses in the box. That worked perfectly for us because we knew we would have opportunities.
"We created those opportunities in the game, so we just had to take them, and we did, and that's why we beat them 2-1. It was a nice feeling beating a team like Sundowns, because it's not easy to defeat them."
Ladies and gents, your Man Of The Match, Iqraam Rayners. Well done Iqraam! ???? #MatsatsantsaUnified | #DStvPrem pic.twitter.com/1lGqYCe3un
— SuperSport United FC (@SuperSportFC) September 2, 2022
Matsatsantsa backed that win up with an away victory over Maritzburg United last weekend, during a match in which Rayners set up his side's opening goal, and the 26-year-old is confident of carrying that form into Saturday's meeting against a struggling Kaizer Chiefs outfit,
"This is a good time to meet Kaizer Chiefs because once a team is struggling, you want to try and kill any momentum, but it's not going to be an easy game.," he adds. "We know we're going to have to fight for the three points over the weekend.
"But the feeling in the team is good, we're bonding well and there's a lot of focus among the guys to get three points this weekend. We don't fear for any team in this league. If we can keep taking it one game at a time, we can collect maximum points against anyone."
READ | Mahlambi ends SuperSport United training stint
As for his own performances, Rayners is not getting ahead of himself and wants to find the back of the net more often but reveals that, regardless of whether is assisting goals or scoring them himself, he is happy as long as he is contributing towards a winning cause.
"The better I can do, the better it is for the team," he concludes. "I've had chances to score, and I am working that, but if I get an assist it's good because it helps the team. If someone else in a better position to score, I will always give the ball to them, I always look up and provide.
"I'm working on that every day in training. I'm always trying to find solutions, whether it's for other players to score or if I have the opportunity to score, to do it myself, but the three points is the most important thing at the end of the day."
You must be signed in to comment. Click here to register.