Stellenbosch FC coach Steve Barker believes striker Iqraam Rayners should be a contender for Player of the Season following his record-breaking five-goal performance against Polokwane City.

Rayners put on an impressive to score all five of Stellies’ goals in their 5-0 win over Rise and Shine at the Danie Craven Stadium this past weekend.

The 28-year-old made history by becoming only the second Stellies player to score a hat-trick and the first to score five goals for the club.

Rayners has now climbed to the top of the DStv Premiership standings with 13 goals, surpassing Orlando Pirates’ Tshegofatso Mabasa and Mamelodi Sundowns’ Lucas Ribeiro Costa on 11 goals.

Barker has since praised the in-form striker for his exploits this campaign and has thrown his name into the hat for the Player of the Season award.

“What can one say? I thought it was five special goals. Every goal was from a well-thought-out, well-struck, or composed and quality finish,” Barker said in his post-match interview.

“Iqraam’s now climbed to the top of the league’s scoring charts with tonight’s return and is definitely playing himself into Player of the Season contention, and he showed his qualities again as a goalscorer.

“He’s a natural goalscorer. You can see when he’s playing, he thinks about what he’s going to do and it’s not just taking a shot. He can see that ‘If I shoot now, it will be blocked, so let me create a better angle or opportunity’.

“He’s always had that in him, but coming back from his recent Bafana call-up, his game has gone to an even higher level, especially with his link-up play which has improved a lot, and he’s scoring goals.”

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