‘Yes, my coach – why not?’: When Mngqithi and Sundowns called, Rayners jumped

Iqraam Rayners was minding his own business, visiting family and relatives at his home in Mitchells Plain, Cape Town, at the end of last season when he received two calls that were to change his football trajectory. 

First was a call from Stellenbosch FC's head of recruitment Brendon Fourie. Then a few minutes later, former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi confirmed what Fourie had told him — the Brazilians were after his signature ahead of the start of the 2024-2025 campaign.

You'd think that the 29-year-old Bafana Bafana striker, having had a terrible spell the last time he turned out for a Tshwane side — SuperSport United between July 2020 and July 2023 — would be reluctant to leave the Western Cape for Gauteng again. Cape players have had a reputation for battling when they take up contracts at the big highveld clubs.

Sundowns' offer — for reportedly more than R20m — came a few days after Rayners had finished a terrific 2023-24 season with Stellenbosch, where he scored 15 Premiership goals to help the Cape winelands club finish third, their highest league position. Rayners was an integral part of Stellies coach Steve Barker's youthful team as they qualified for the Caf Confederation Cup for the first time.

He had helped promote the club to the elite league as National First Division champions in 2018-2019, a season in which he won the second tier's Golden Boot award with 19 goals. One might have thought Rayners, in his second spell back at Stellies, would be looking to further bolster his stature there by staying with father-figure boss Barker. 

“For me it was all about focusing on what I was doing at Stellenbosch before anything. I asked Brendon, 'What are you guys [Stellies] going to do?' He said, 'No we're planning to sell you to Sundowns'. And I said, 'OK no problem'. 

“For me it was a surprise move, but coach Manqoba was the one who said to me, 'My boy, I want you at Sundowns'. I said, 'Yes my coach, why not?'”

Rayners has since been joined by his former Stellies teammate Jayden Adams at the Brazilians — an “incredible” player Rayners expects will eventually take over the playmaking role from Downs captain and midfield legend Themba Zwane. Both are revelling in playing in the yellow and blue, surrounded by a star-studded combination that views continental success in the Caf Champions League as priority No 1, the Premiership second and anything else as an added bonus.

Rayners, sharing the Sundowns striking responsibilities with two other prolific, huge figures in the position in the PSL — Brazilian Lucas Ribeiro and Namibian Peter Shalulile — has 13 goals in 25 matches in all competitions this season. New coach Miguel Cardoso, who replaced Mngqithi after domestic cup and Champions League group stage disappointments in December, is not afraid to switch the strikers around to accommodate them all; Ribeiro dropping deep into midfield or Shalulile or Rayners going wide. Another Brazilian, Arthur Sales, provides the beanpole centre-forward ball-winner role when required. 

It might not have turned out so well for Rayners at Downs — many high-profile players have been lured by the financial comforts and medal potential at Chloorkop, and battled to make the breakthrough. Surely the difficulties Rayners had at SuperSport, where he scored a paltry 20 goals in all competitions in three seasons, would have weighed on his mind when Mngqithi called? The striker said it's the way he was used at Matsatsantsa that is the standout difference between his two Pretoria experiences. “The difference is SuperSport played me on the side,” he said. 

What might have shocked Rayners is that less than five months after his arrival at Downs, Mngqithi was gone. He took the development in his stride — playing and coaching in football are volatile professions and the unexpected should always be anticipated.

“I understand these things happen in football. For me, it's all about focus. I'm doing my best for coach Cardoso because for me it's all about adapting to working with new coaches whenever that happens.”

The striker's move has gone well, on and off the field. On it he is playing some of his best football for one of Africa's richest and most ambitious clubs, surrounded by Chloorkop's facilities, army of boffins and excellent, super-committed players. Off it he has carved out a life of comfort, living with his girlfriend in Johannesburg. “If it's my off days I'm always relaxing and when I have three or four days off, I go to Cape Town to my family or book a place [for a weekend away] for me and my girlfriend; I go away to take my mind off football.” 

Happiest footballers make the best players. Rayners' adaptation at Sundowns has been notably quick and impressive and it coincided with the period when Bafana coach Hugo Broos also had his eye on the forward. No doubt the Belgian was attracted by Rayners' eye-catching form at Stellies last season, including scoring all five goals in their 5-0 win over Polokwane City in a league match at Danie Craven Stadium.

“For a lot of goalscorers it is about the decision-making and 'Ikkie' [Rayners] makes really good decisions, more than many strikers I know,” enthused Barker after Rayners equalled James Chamanga's 16-year-old PSL record, which the Zambian had set in December 2007 in Moroka Swallows' 6-2 win against Platinum Stars at Germiston Stadium.

Achievements:

Won Golden Boot with 19 goals for Stellenbosch FC in the NFD (2018-2019)

Nominated as PSL's Footballer of the Year (2023-2024)

PSL runner-up top scorer with 15 goals in 28 matches (2023-2024)

Stellenbosch FC Footballer of the Year (2023-2024)

Wins RAMA Fans Player of the Season and Golden Boot at Stellies (2023-2024)

—  Iqraam Rayners Bio

Rayners made his national debut at 28 in Bafana's drawn friendly against Andorra in Algeria in March and has since made nine more appearances, scoring four goals. “I think it's about patience, working hard, scoring goals and obviously the coach of the national team saw that. When I got my first call-up I took my opportunity and that's how I'm now a national team player,” he said.

With Bafana set to resume their 2026 World Cup qualifying group campaign next month before finishing the year at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Rayners is hoping to avoid injuries so he represents the national team more in a hectic season, in which Sundowns are also chasing four titles — the Premiership, Nedbank Cup, Caf Champions League and expanded Fifa Club World Cup in the US in June and July. “Sundowns want to win all these trophies and I'm inspired by that. I'm eager to show everyone I can still do a lot in my career. I just hope I'm injury free.”

Among all the titles Sundowns are pursuing there's no doubt in Rayners' mind that winning the Champions League for the second time is the most coveted and urgent matter at Chloorkop. In the quarterfinal draw on Thursday, Downs may be drawn against Orlando Pirates, the team the Brazilians thumped 4-1 in the league last week, with Rayners providing a crucial assist for Lucas Ribeiro's second goal.

“If it happens, it happens,” Rayners said. “Any team can beat anyone in the Champions League. It's not like playing in the league — the Champions League is more difficult, especially when you play away.”