South Africa to urge Pienaar rethink

Lyndon Lloyd , 24 October, 6comments | Jump to most recent

Midfielder's international retirement 'is very sad'

The chief executive of the South Africa Football Association says that he is keen to sit down with Steven Pienaar and urge the midfielder to reconsider his decision to retire from international football at the age of 30.

Robin Petersen told the BBC that the ex-Bafana Bafana captain's surprise move "is a big setback for us. It is very sad."

"I want to sit down with Steven and find out his reasons. We'd love to have him - he's clearly our best player."

Pienaar has 60 caps for his country and has represented the "Rainbow Nation" in two World Cups that would provide valuable experience for South Africa as they continue their 2014 World Cup qualification campaign and prepare to host the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in January.

Explaining his decision on 2nd October, however, Pienaar said that the demands of playing for club and country had become to great and that he would prefer to put all of his focus on Everton.

Though David Moyes provided assurances that Everton had put no pressure on Pienaar to choose between club and country, the ex-Ajax Cape Town and Borussia Dortmund man no doubt feels some sort of duty to repay the faith showed in him by the Blues who made a net loss on their transaction with Tottenham Hotspur when they bought him back from White Hart Lane this past summer.

"Steven has been a loyal servant to South African football and he has given his best - I have never been one of those who felt he hasn't tried," Petersen continued.

"Maybe he will change his mind in the future, we will see."

Quotes or other material sourced from BBC Sport

Reader Comments (6)

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Pablo Connelly
1 Posted 24/10/2012 at 23:00:37

Stand strong Pienaar, you've made the right decison, you know it makes sense!!

Richard Styles
2 Posted 25/10/2012 at 05:40:37

All this apart, why haven't Everton appealed against that Red Card?

Everyone who saw that game, match of the day, and all the replays knows that wasn't a yellow card, yet Everton are not throwing in an appeal! They can only say No!

Michael Kenrick
3 Posted 25/10/2012 at 05:58:53

Richard, the rules are very simple:

You can appeal straight red cards.

You cannot appeal yellow cards, even second yellows that then become red.

Phil Sammon
4 Posted 25/10/2012 at 08:25:44

If that has to be explained one more time I think I may explode.

As for this story, I was expecting it at some point. I understand he may want to do right by his country but he's already made one monumental cock-up in his Everton career. I hope he doesn't leave us in the lurch again. Great player we can't afford to lose

Douglas Turner
5 Posted 25/10/2012 at 12:50:51

IDK! Some people just can't take no for an answer!

Danny Kewley
6 Posted 26/10/2012 at 22:06:25

I can understand anyone wanting to have SP in their side except Harry Tottenham but as regards his country, he is without. A doubt their best player. He doesn't want to play for them anymore. Who can blame him when The Mighty Blues are on their march AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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