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'For us as a team we need to focus on a game at a time, especially after what happened last weekend,' said the Sundowns striker.
Iqraam Rayners says the mood is still good in the Sundowns camp despite the Nedbank Cup loss to Chiefs. Picture: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images
Iqraam Rayners says Sundowns’ players still have their eyes firmly on the prize as they head into Saturday’s Caf Champions League semifinal first leg against Al Ahly at Loftus Stadium.
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Masandawana suffered a setback last weekend when they were beaten 2-1 by Kaizer Chiefs in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at the same venue. But there is still a lot to play for, with Miguel Cardoso’s side leading the race for the Betway Premiership and in with a chance of a second ever Champions League title.
“Every match the motivation is the same,” Rayners told journalists this week at Sundowns training.
“The mood is still good in the camp. For us as a team we need to focus on a game at a time, especially after what happened last weekend.
“There is always the opportunity to play another cup match, another league match and whatever happens will happen.”
Rayners joined Sundowns from Stellenbosch at the start of this season, and has hit the ground running. The 29 year-old has 16 goals and eight assists in all competitions for the Brazilians this season.
It has gone far better for him than another spell in Tshwane with SuperSport United, where he scored just five times in 58 appearances between July 2020 and January 2023.
“The time I joined SuperSport it was a bit difficult because they didn’t play me where I played at Stellenbosch,” added Rayners.
“When I moved back to Cape Town (Stellenbosch), Steve (Barker) knew how to use me. So I had a good opportunity to go back and do well and I got the move to Sundowns.”
Now that Rayners is at Sundowns the target is clear – trophies and more trophies.
“I came to Sundowns to win trophies and compete in every competitions. Sundowns has always been winning … and going far in the Champions League. This is a good opportunity for the team.”
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Ahly are the benchmark when it comes to the Champions League, the 12-time winners having won six of the last eight editions.
But Sundowns do have a winning record against the Red Devils, with five wins to Ahly’s four.
“Every game is a big game playing at Sundowns, especially this weekend,” added Rayners.
“We need to go to the final.”
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