Rayners can’t be overlooked

Steve Barker believes Iqraam Rayners should be under consideration for the Footballer-of the-Season Award, after the Stellenbosch striker lit up the DStv Premiership on Saturday night with all five goals in a 5-0 thumping of Polokwane City at the Danie Craven Stadium.

The-28-year-old Rayners (below) has been brilliant since re-joining Stellies in January 2023, after an unsuccessful stint at SuperSport United.

On Saturday he became just the second striker in the Premier Soccer League era to score five goals in a single match, after Zambian James Chamanga scored five for Moroka Swallows in a 6-2 win over Platinum Stars in December 2007.

Rayners’ amazing efforts against Rise and Shine also shot him to the top of the DStv Premiership scoring charts, with 13 league goals this season.

“They were five special goals,” said Barker after the match.

“Sometimes in four or five you will get one or two (that are special), but I thought every one was well thought out and well struck, they were quality finishes. For me he is playing himself in contention to be Player-of-the-Season.”

Rayners has been a key part of an incredible campaign for Stellies, who have already won the Carling Black Label Knockout, are in the semifinals of the Nedbank Cup, and are second in the DStv Premiership, and on target to grab a place in next season’s Caf Champions League.

The striker also put up his hand to become a regular in Hugo Broos’ Bafana squad in March, scoring and playing superbly in a 3-3 friendly draw with Algeria. On this form, he is certain to be a part of the squad for the upcoming 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Rayners now has 30 goals in 47 appearances in all competitions. since returning to Stellies.