Striker Iqraam Rayners is excited to test himself on the international stage after coming off the back of a superb domestic campaign for Stellenbosch FC.
The 28-year-old Stellenbosch striker scored an impressive 17 goals in 39 appearances as the Cape Winelands club ended the 2023/24 DStv Premiership in third place.
Rayners was also selected by Bafana Bafana boss Hugo Broos ahead of league top-scorer Tshegofatso Mabasa.
South Africa face Nigeria and Zimbabwe in World Cup qualifiers in the coming days where Rayners will be looking to add to his solitary goal for Bafana, scored in an international friendly against Algeria in March.
The Stellies striker said: “It’s not easy to play at this level compared to the PSL, this is international level, so this a great opportunity for me to test myself against the best on the continent, especially against the players of Nigeria who play for big clubs in Europe.
“I am thankful to the coach [Broos] for believing in me. For me, it’s a great opportunity to be here. I have the confidence to do what the coach asks me to do.”
Rayners added: “If we can’t win, we must at least get a point in Nigeria. Like the coach said, he wants four points from these two games but we will try to get six points.
“This is football and anything can happen, we might steal the game in the last minutes in Nigeria.”
Bafana Bafana Press Conference that took place earlier today at Dobsonville Stadium, Soweto. #BafanaPride #WCQualifiers pic.twitter.com/jXUl47YHbx
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) June 3, 2024
