Chippa can ‘make things difficult’ for Sundowns, Rayners warns

Mid-table Chippa United have quality players and can cause Mamelodi Sundowns problems, Brazilians striker Iqraam Rayners cautioned before their Premier Soccer League (PSL) clash at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday (7.30pm).

Sundowns are looking to continue to avoid complications on their march towards clinching an eighth consecutive PSL title as they host coach Thabo September’s eighth-placed Chilli Boys.

Miguel Cardoso’s Brazilians (with 61 points from 24 games) need seven points from four matches to clinch the championship, providing second-placed Orlando Pirates (49 points from 22 games) do not drop points.

A win against Chippa and another against Stellenbosch FC at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday would leave Downs a point from the title, assuming Pirates beat Lamontville Golden Arrows at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Tuesday night.

Rayners said that Sundowns had to keep their minds on continuing to notch wins with metronomic precision — they have won 20 in this league campaign — rather than think of such permutations.

“It’s just taking one game at a time and collect maximum points — that’s all we do,” Rayners said.

Still, the former Stellenbosch player cautioned that meeting teams lower down the table was always a tricky and an unpredictable undertaking at the end of a season as clubs jostle for their best finish and to qualify for next campaign’s MTN8.

“It’s always difficult playing the teams at the bottom because they’re fighting for the top eight, they’re sometimes fighting for their lives.

“But for us it’s important to get the points and focus on the next games,” the Bafana Bafana striker added. “It’s always going to be good for a team like Chippa United to play against a team like Sundowns. I know there are a lot of quality players at Chippa — they’re always going to make things difficult for us.”

Sundowns would be pleased to wrap up the league title as soon as possible as that would allow them to start preparations in earnest towards their second Caf Champions League final after winning that competition in 2016.

Downs meet Egyptian outfit Pyramids FC in the two-legged final at Loftus on May 24 and in Cairo on June 1.