Head coach Miguel Cardoso had plenty of praise for a Mamelodi Sundowns star who 'didn't have an easy season but finished in the right way' as the side kicked off their FIFA World Cup campaign.
Sundowns climbed to the top of Group F on matchday one of the Club World Cup group stage, currently underway in the United States, with a 1-0 win over South Korean side Ulsan HD.
READ | Tau: Why I had to speak to Broos...
The solitary winning goal came from striker Iqraam Rayners, who netted his 23rd goal for the club across all competitions this season.
He had a slow start to 2024/25, finding the back of the net just three times in the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
However, the former Stellenbosch FC man picked up the pace, scoring four in the last five league matches as the side bulldozed their way to an eighth consecutive Premiership title.
Speaking at the post-match press conference following the win over Ulsan, Cardoso had plenty of praise.
"When you (journalists) said congratulations, I was thinking that I would say congratulations to him also because he put the ball in the back of the net," Cardoso said.
"Iqraam is a player who obviously has a wonderful definition, he understands the game very well and where to use spaces to be on the pitch.
READ | Thumbs up for Pirates-bound star: He will be the best in the country
"He didn’t have an easy season, but he finished in the right way. He showed in South Africa, in the league, then in the Champions League and now in the [Club] World Cup.
"It’s just wonderful to have quality players. We have a locker room full of them. Some of them don’t play," explained the tactician.
Cardoso will be hoping the goal poacher has his shooting boots on when Sundowns take on German giants Borussia Dortmund on Saturday in matchday two of the global showpiece.
Photo: Getty Images/Chris Brunskill/Fantasista
