Iqraam Rayners closes in on 100-goal milestone in PSL scoring charts

Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners has moved to 87 goals on the PSL’s all-time scoring list and now needs 13 more to reach a century.

The 30-year-old scored again in Sundowns’ 4-1 win over Durban City on Saturday, taking him past Bernard Parker and to within one goal of former striker Katlego ‘Mahoota’ Mashego.

Parker finished his career with 86 goals for South African top-tier clubs, while Mashego scored 88. Rayners’ latest effort means he now stands alone on 87.

The Sundowns forward will move beyond Mashego with his next goal. He will then target Wilfred Mugeyi and Lehlohonolo Majoro, who both ended on 91, before attempting to overtake Khama Billiat’s total of 97.

Billiat is the only player among those ahead of Rayners who remains active, although he is currently playing for Scottland FC in Zimbabwe.

Rayners’ progress would have been even quicker had goals scored in the lower divisions counted towards the list. During his time with Stellenbosch, he scored 19 goals in the 2018/19 season as he finished top scorer in the Motsepe Foundation Championship.

His goals for Santos while the club competed in the second tier are also excluded from the PSL figures.

“It always feels good to score goals and whenever I get an opportunity to play, I make use of it,” Rayners said.

“Always coming, helping the team and winning games so for me it is a good feeling.”

Only seven players have reached triple figures for a South African top-flight club since the PSL era began.

Peter Shalulile leads the standings with 134 goals, followed by Bradley Grobler on 130 and Siyabonga Nomvethe on 129. Daniel Mudau and Mabhudi Khenyeza each scored 110, while Manuel ‘Tico-Tico’ Bucuane finished with 104 and Collins Mbesuma with 103.

Grobler, who turns 39 in January, is the only member of that group still playing. He joined Stellenbosch at the beginning of the season.

The PSL all-time scoring records include goals scored in all official competitions while representing a top-flight club. The records date from Friday night, August 9, 1996, when the first matches of the PSL era were played.