Some strikers chase glory. Iqraam Rayners is quietly hunting history, and he’s closing in fast.
The Mamelodi Sundowns marksman edged closer to PSL immortality on Tuesday evening, netting in a 2-0 victory over Orbit College in Rustenburg that sent the Brazilians top of the league standings ahead of Orlando Pirates.
But beyond the three points and the bragging rights, Rayners achieved something far more significant. With that strike, the Cape Town-born forward drew level with the late Alton Meiring on 79 goals across all competitions in South African top-flight football.
At 30 years old, with 10 league goals already this season, Rayners isn’t just chasing numbers, he’s rewriting his legacy one clinical finish at a time.
The Journey to 79
Rayners’ path to this milestone has been anything but straightforward. Unlike strikers who’ve spent entire careers at single clubs, the prolific forward has built his reputation across the PSL landscape.
From Santos to Stellenbosch FC, then SuperSport United, and now thriving in the gold and yellow of Sundowns, Rayners has proven his goalscoring prowess isn’t system-dependent. It’s instinctive.
His current tally of 79 places him equal 14th on the all-time PSL goalscorers list since the competition’s inception in the 1996/97 campaign. But here’s where it gets interesting, he needs just 13 more goals to crack the top ten.
Given his current form, that’s not a question of if, but when.
Chasing the century club
The magic number looms large: 100 PSL goals. Only 13 players in the competition’s history have reached that milestone. Rayners stands 21 goals away from joining that exclusive club.
At his current trajectory, sitting on double figures with months remaining in the season, the century could arrive before the campaign concludes. And if not? Next season would almost certainly seal the deal.
Living in Shalulile’s shadow, for now
The irony won’t be lost on Rayners. The man currently leading the PSL’s all-time scoring charts with 134 goals is his Sundowns teammate, Peter Shalulile.
Training alongside the league’s most prolific marksman provides a masterclass and motivation in equal measure. Shalulile has set the benchmark, but at 30, Rayners still has time to close the considerable gap.
Behind Shalulile sits retired legend Siyabonga Nomvethe on 129 goals, followed by Bradley Grobler, still active for Sekhukhune United, on 128. Daniel Mudau and Mabhuti Khenyeza share fourth place with 110 goals apiece.
The top ten cut-off? A hefty 91 goals, currently occupied by Lehlohonolo Majoro and Wilfred Mugeyi.
This season’s golden boot race
Whilst hunting historical milestones, Rayners remains locked in the present. His 10 league goals this season see him joint-top of the scoring charts alongside Golden Arrows’ Junior Dion.
It’s a battle on two fronts: personal legacy and immediate silverware. Few strikers manage that balance. Fewer still thrive under it.
What makes Rayners’ achievement remarkable isn’t just the numbers, it’s the lack of fanfare surrounding them. Whilst other strikers dominate headlines, Rayners simply does his job with ruthless efficiency.
No elaborate celebrations. No social media theatrics. Just goals. Lots of them.
Tuesday’s strike against Orbit College wasn’t just another tally on the scoresheet. It was another step towards PSL immortality. Another reminder that sometimes the quietest players make the loudest statements.
