Stellenbosch FC striker Iqraam Rayners is grateful to Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos for picking him over Orlando Pirates talisman and DStv Premiership top goal scorer Tshegofatso Mabasa.
Rayners, who trailed Mabasa with one goal in the race for the Golden Boot, got the nod for the two important 2026 Fifa World Cup Qualifier matches against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.
Rayners had 14 goals, while Mabasa scored 15 league goals in total.
Speaking to the media ahead of the national team’s clash against Nigeria on Friday evening, Rayner expressed his gratitude to Broos for believing in him.
He intends to repay the national team coach with goals.
“I just want to say thanks to coach Hugo Broos for believing and having confidence in me,” Rayners said.
“For me, it is a great opportunity to be with the team, and at my previous camp, I did well enough to be back on the team, and the coach gave me clear instructions on what I should do to improve my game.
“So, I have confidence in myself, and I am just grateful to be here with the national team.”
Last week, Broos explained that the reason he has more confidence in Rayners is the fact that he was not far off in terms of his goal tally for the season.
Why did Broos pick Rayners?
“Iqraam scored 14 goals. It’s a one goal difference, so I give the confidence to Iqraam right now,” Broos said.
“It was a decision [about] whether to pick him or Mabasa. But Iqraam did very well in the game against Algeria, and I gave him confidence now.
“We will follow Mabasa next season. Let’s hope he continues what he did, scoring goals in the last four months. Then we will have another striker.”
Bafana landed in Uyo, south of Nigeria, on Wednesday using a chartered flight — an effort that saw Broos commend the SA Football Association (Safa) for.
“We now have a charter, and in six hours we will be in Uyo. So, I am very happy, and I must thank Safa for the financial efforts they made for us to achieve this because it was not cheap.
“But that is because they understand the importance of this game and travelling in a much easier way,” Broos said.
The game between Bafana and the Super Eagles will get under way at 9pm (local time).
