Steven Pienaar trained with Ajax Cape Town late last week and he spoke exclusively to ajaxct.com.
ajaxct.com: Steven, welcome to Cape Town. How did you get to train with Ajax Cape Town?
Steven Pienaar: Thank You Mark, our game against Liverpool was postponed due to the Reds playing in the Carling Cup final, and the coach gave us a week off due to the upcoming international weekend.
I had a choice to go to Amsterdam or come to Cape Town, I had to come back anyway due to the Bafana call-up and then I asked the coach to give me permission to come and train with Ajax Cape Town. We contacted
Ajax and they agreed.
Also the weather in Amsterdam is quite cold so it was easy to decide to come to Cape Town.
ajaxct.com – Your transfer from Spurs to Everton happened very late in the transfer window. Can you take us through the process as it unfolded?
SP – Like they say in football strange things happen. When I came back from injury I spoke to the coach at Spurs about having more game time and he told me to be patient it will come, the team was doing well and I can understand.
After the Wigan game David Moyes called me and asked if I would like to come to Everton on loan. I went to the Spurs Manager and said that I knew that Everton contacted Spurs regarding a loan deal.
Knowing that Spurs were not too keen, I asked that they reconsider because I needed to play football. For me it was important that I play after being out injured for at least four months.
The move happened very quickly and it went through in the last 10 minutes of the transfer window.
The Spurs manger did not want me to leave.
At the end of the day as a player, I needed to make that decision but as I said with the World Cup qualifying games coming up, I needed to get game time.
ajaxct.com – What was your reception like on your return to Everton?
SP – The day I left Everton the people were very sad and when I returned the place was buzzing and the welcome was good.
I could have gone on loan to another club but then I would need to learn their system and the players, that’s why it wasn’t difficult to go back to Everton because I know the club, the culture, the people, the players and the coach.
The first game back at Goodison Park was an emotional moment for me, while some people were still upset that I left, most of the fans welcomed me. The coach knows what I am capable of doing, so it wasn’t difficult to slot back in.
ajaxct.com – Did you get a “special” welcome at your first training session back at Everton?
SP – The players are always taking the mickey and Phil Neville tweeted that I needed to wear my shin guards, but it was a comfortable return and they chirped me that now I’d at least get a game. Everton is a family orientated club, known as the peoples club and I got a warm welcome from the fans too.
ajaxct.com – You’ve been recalled to the Bafana line-up ahead of the friendly against Senegal. Were you disappointed that Bafana did not play in the 2012 Orange Africa Cup of Nations?
SP – Yes I was disappointed that we did not qualify.
I was still struggling with an injury during the qualifying games and after the result against Niger I had feeling that something would go wrong.
I had been following the team throughout the qualifying rounds, speaking to the coach and players and it was disappointing not to qualify, especially after the World Cup because we want to play in all the big competitions.
I know it was especially disappointing for the people of South Africa.
We’ve got to make things right and ensure that we qualify for the 2014 World Cup. We have a lot of young players coming through, they are hungry after getting a taste of the World Cup and they will want to be at the next one in Brazil.
ajaxct.com – Does Bafana have something to prove against Senegal?
SP – No I don’t think so. We don’t have anything to prove, the important games are going to take place in June.
A number of players got a taste of international football recently. I think it’s important to play against strong opposition in the build-up to the qualifying rounds, getting the guys together again having tough games as we prepare for the qualifying games.
ajaxct.com – Will the AFCON disappointment provide the inspiration to do well in the qualifying rounds of the World Cup?
SP – Yes, we know what’s expected of us. It’s going to be tough but we got the players who can overcome this challenge, as well as a sound technical team who have been working hard at preparing the team ahead of the games.
It’s up to us, the players not to disappoint.
ajaxct.com – Do you have a message to the Ajax Cape Town fans?
SP – I want to say thanx for all the support throughout the years and I hope they come to support Ajax Cape Town in their numbers for the remainder of the season.
