Iqraam Rayners: All about the small details for Mamelodi Sundowns at Fifa Club World Cup
Matshelane Mamabolo | Published 49 minutes ago
IQRAAM Rayners has expressed his delight at having helped Mamelodi Sundowns win their opening match at the Fifa Club World Cup, after scoring in Masandawana's 1-0 victory over Ulsan HD in Orlando, Florida in the United States on Wednesday.
Rayners walked away with the Player of the Match award thanks to his 36th-minute strike, a toe-poke from close range after he'd been sent sailing by Lucas Ribeiro's sublime through-ball.
The duo actually combined two more times in the match for Rayners to score, but both goals were ruled out by VAR.
The first was because the ball had made contact with the striker's arm before it went in, and the other one was due to the Capetonian having been offside when the Brazilian made the pass.
Not that Rayners was gutted by not having had a World Cup hat-trick.
Far from it, for though he'd protested against the initial denial, Rayners was just pleased Sundowns won.
'The important thing was for us to get a win tonight, and that's what matters. I am happy we won the game,' he said during the post-match press conference.
'For me, it was about my team first and the technical team, and then the people behind us (the fans).
'We had a lot of opportunities to kill the game, but I am happy for the victory.'
Though he admitted the match was a tight contest, he said nothing about their opponents surprised them – not even the fact that the South Koreans were far less physical than they'd been made out to be.
'The coach spoke to the players about the small details, so we were not surprised about them (Ulsan) because the coach gave us all the details, which were important,' the Bafana striker said.
'He told us how important it is to move the ball quicker; that we must play to our strengths, and for us (strikers) to create the passing lines for the midfielders and the two number 10s.
'It was important for us to know that Themba (Zwane) and Lucas were there (on the pitch).'
Coach Miguel Cardoso spoke of Rayners' importance to the team: 'He put the ball inside the net, and it is a moment that when it happens it is the reason for all the excitement.
'He is a player with a wonderful contribution, and he understands very well how to use the spaces that appear on the pitch.'
The Portuguese lauded Rayners for his tenacity.
'He did not have an easy season because he had highs and lows. But he finished it well in winning the South African league, and played in the Champions League, and now he's showing it here in the World Cup.
'It's wonderful to have the quality players, and we have a locker-room full of them.'
Cardoso says all he and his technical team have to do is arm the players for battle.
'We just need to give them the tools so that they feel free. The players like Iqraam, they are creative players and need to have the proper emotional freedom and a comfort to express the best they can, so that they can give their best for the team.'
And there can be no denying that Rayners did just that on matchday one of Sundowns' Club World Cup campaign.
Now he has to replicate that showing against Germany's Borussia Dortmund in their next match on Saturday (6pm SA time kick-off).
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