Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners is optimistic about his team’s chances of progressing to the knockout stages of the FIFA Club World Cup.
The 29-year-old Bafana Bafana international was the hero in Sundowns’ opening match against Korean side Ulsan HD, scoring the sole goal in a 1-0 victory at the Inter & Co Stadium in Florida on Tuesday.
The Brazilians currently sit atop Group F, a strong position further bolstered by Borussia Dortmund’s draw with Fluminense in their first game. Sundowns’ next challenge sees them face German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Ohio on Saturday.
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Prior to the tournament, Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso had emphasized that advancing from a group also containing Brazilian giants Fluminense would be a significant accomplishment for his squad.
Speaking to the Sowetan ahead of their crucial match against Dortmund, Rayners, who remarkably had two goals disallowed in the Ulsan game en route to lifting the Man of the Match award, stressed the team’s focus on a “one game at a time” approach.
“We just need to take it one game at a time,” Rayners stated. “We need to focus on the next one and whatever happens in the next one happens but I think we can go through. We just need to keep helping each other, fighting and that’s all it is about.”
Rayners expressed gratitude to his teammates, coaches, and the fervent supporters, highlighting the team’s primary objective in their opening fixture. “For us as a team, it was all about getting the win in our first game, and I’m happy we managed to get it.”
Despite the disappointment of his disallowed goals, Rayners remains focused on future opportunities. “It always feels good to score goals. The two goals were disallowed, so I just have to keep pushing and focus on the next two games; that’s what matters,” he added, underscoring his determination to contribute further to Sundowns’ Club World Cup campaign.