Iqraam Rayners is sad because of a decision from PSL | OneFootball

Iqraam Rayners is sad because of a decision from PSL

Mamelodi Sundowns and South African national team star Iqraam Rayners has broken his silence regarding what he perceives as a glaring omission from the Premier Soccer League's Footballer of the Season shortlist.

The 29-year-old Mitchells Plain native, coming off a campaign where he ranked among the league's most productive attackers in both goals and assists, finds himself surprisingly absent from the final nominees list that includes Lucas Ribeiro, Sekhukhune United's Keletso Makgalwa, and Orlando Pirates' Relebohile Mofekeng.

Rayners' exclusion raises questions about the selection criteria, particularly given his statistical superiority over some of the chosen candidates. The Sundowns forward's remarkable contributions this season appear to have been overlooked in what many might view as a controversial decision by the league's awards committee.

This development casts a shadow over what should have been a celebration of the PSL's top performers, instead highlighting potential flaws in the recognition process for one of South African football's most prestigious individual honors.

Good season without appreciation!

Iqraam Rayners' remarkable 22-goal, 9-assist campaign across five competitions placed him statistically second only to Lucas Ribeiro's 20 goals and 14 assists in the same tournaments. Yet when the PSL announced its Footballer of the Season finalists - Ribeiro, Keletso Makgalwa (6 goals, 11 assists), and Relebohile Mofokeng (12 goals, 15 assists) - Rayners' name stood conspicuously absent.

"Obviously I was disappointed when I saw the players they nominated," the Sundowns forward confessed on the Pitchside Podcast. "Don't you think my stats were good enough to be among the nominees?"

While conceding Ribeiro's superior claim ("I think the best player for me in the league was Lucas, obviously"), Rayners maintained his rightful place in the conversation: "I'm second after Lucas. You know, other people don't see it like that... so obviously I was disappointed." The numbers suggest his grievance carries weight, exposing what many might consider an awards selection oversight.