SuperSport United CEO Stan Matthews has confirmed the sale of Iqraam Rayners to Stellenbosch FC on Deadline Day in order to balance the club’s books.
Rayners, 27, joined Matsatsantsa in July 2020 from Stellies and made 58 appearances in all competitions scoring five goals.
However, he was sold back to his former club on Tuesday after the arrivals of midfielder Zukile Kewuti, striker Serigne Mamour Niang and forward Zakhele Lepasa (loan), to balance the club’s January deals.
On Wednesday morning during the launch of SuperSport’s new sponsorship with iKhokha, Matthews confirmed Rayners’ sale, as reported by iDiski Times on Deadline Day.
“To create space for these three players, I had to make one move in the market,” he said.
“So Iqraam Rayners was sold to Stellenbosch yesterday in an outright sale, so that kind of balanced me out.
“I think form a Gavin [Hunt] perspective, he was happy that I was able to juggle the market and he’d only lose one player but bring in three players.
“I think that adds a little bit of more depth to us, moving forward.”
Stellenbosch are yet to announce the signing of Rayners, who is believed to have agreed to a two-and-a-half-year deal with an option to extend.
Rayners fired the club to DStv Premiership promotion in 2018, with a Golden Boot-winning season before scoring six goals and registering seven assists in his debut top-flight campaign.
Overall, Rayners made 58 appearances for Matsatsantsa, scoring five goals and setting up 11 more – with five of his assists coming in 2022/23, despite only starting three league games under Gavin Hunt.
