/ 11 January 2008

Pienaar storms out of press conference

South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar stormed out of a press conference on Thursday after refusing to answer questions about his late arrival at a 2008 Africa Cup of Nations camp.

”I’m going,” shouted the Everton star after his attempt to set the agenda was rejected by journalists in Durban where Bafana Bafana are training for the January 20 to February 10 tournament in Ghana.

Everton manager David Moyes wanted Pienaar to play in an English League Cup semi-final at Chelsea last Tuesday, but Fifa rejected the move and Pienaar arrived here 48 hours after a deadline set by the world controlling body.

South Africa open their Group D campaign on January 23 against Angola in the northern city of Tamale and also face 2004 winners Tunisia and Senegal, with the top two countries on the final standings advancing to the quarter-finals. — Sapa-AFP