Pirates legend backs Sundowns striker over Bucs forward for Bafana

Orlando Pirates icon Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi has explained why he would still stick with Mamelodi Sundowns striker Iqraam Rayners in Bafana Bafana’s upcoming matches.

Rayners started the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Guinea at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday when Pitso Mosimane began his era with a 2-1 win.

The Sundown striker played 68 minutes but had little impact before he was replaced by Orlando Pirates star Yanela Mburhuma, who was making his Bafana debut.

Pirates icon wants to see Sundowns man

Despite Rayners’ lack of goals, Vilakazi wants coach Pitso Mosimane to continue with him up front when South Africa take on Eritrea in Egypt on Wednesday.

“I will go with Rayners again because remember it’s not only about this game,” Vilakazi said on iDiski TV.

“There’s another game on Wednesday. There’s another game again on the weekend and there is not only these three games.”

Why Vilakazi is backing Rayners to continue

Vilakazi feels it is right to allow Rayners familiarise himself with the role instead of chopping and changing this early in Mosimane’s reign as there will be other games for Mbuthuma to start.

“We are still going to need Rayners we don’t have another one,” he added. “So we want to make sure that Rayners comes at his best, compete, also Mbuthuma rise up to say Rayners if you’re not going to do it, I’m going to do it.”

“So we need those two boys to make sure that they pull up their socks both of them,” the Pirates record scorer further stated.