Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso says he is blessed with a talented squad, but reserved special praise for striker Iqraam Rayners.

The Brazilians got their Club World Cup campaign off to the perfect start after claiming a 1-0 win over Ulsan HD in their Group F opener in Orlando.

Rayners scored the only goal of the game to secure the win and all three points, which saw them move up to first place in Group F with three points.

Cardoso praised Rayners for his performance and believes he has a real knack for scoring goals.

“He’s got a real talent for finding the back of the net. His positioning is second to none. He knows exactly when and where to find space to inflict damage on our opponents,” Cardoso said.

“He’s had a tough season, with many ups and downs, but he’s handled it incredibly well across the domestic league, the CAF Champions League, and now the Club World Cup.

“As a coach, it’s a real blessing to have quality players like him in your squad. I’ve got a squad full of talented players, and even those who feature less regularly are still hugely important to us.

“Our attacking options, like Iqraam, are silky, creative players and need to be able to express themselves freely on the pitch.”

Mamelodi Sundowns will be hoping to continue their winning ways when they take on Borussia Dortmund in their next game played at the TQL Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off set for 6pm.