Bafana Bafana and Everton midfield maestro Steven Pienaar was bubbling with confidence after his first training session with the national squad at Milpark on Wednesday.
Pienaar, who suffered a thigh strain before playing in the FA Cup final against Chelsea last weekend — which Chelsea won 2-1 — said he was fighting fit and ready to play against Poland in Bafana’s final friendly warm-up at the Orlando Stadium on Saturday before the Confederations Cup kicks off on June 14.
Pienaar joined his Bafana teammates on Tuesday and said he was pleasantly surprised by the players’ levels of fitness and the team spirit.
”I have been in a lot of Bafana camps over the years and this is the best team spirit I have ever encountered. This is encouraging as a happy team is a winning team and that is what we are aiming for.”
Pienaar said head coach Joel Santana’s decision to bring into the camp Absa Premiership players and some overseas players who finished their club season earlier had worked, which will be sweet music to Santana’s ears.
”I was a little concerned with the fitness aspect when we played Norway [in April in Rustenburg]. But I am pleased to say the players have looked really sharp at training.
”There is a tremendous spirit on and off the training pitch and I am rearing to go. I trained without any problems from my injury today [Wednesday] and I am looking forward to the Confederations Cup.”
Pienaar warned that the most important game in Bafana’s Confederations Cup programme would be the opening game against Asian champions Iraq.
”This will be the hardest hurdle for us to overcome. The first game in every major tournament is difficult because we as players are nervous at the start of a competition.
”Iraq will be no pushovers, but with the spirit in camp I am confident we can overcome them and get off to a winning start.”
When asked if he would be under more pressure as Bafana’s key player, the quietly spoken Pienaar stated: ”There is always pressure, but I’m not the kingpin in the team.
”Soccer is a team sport and I am only one part of the squad. This is about Bafana doing well for our country, not about Steve Pienaar.
”I am simply a cog in the wheel and determined to play a role, but every single person — even those on the bench — are key parts of the squad and have an important role to play.
”If we bond, which I believe we will, then it will be teamwork that will see us do well.”
Pienaar said he had enjoyed the past English season, where he emerged as the star player in the Everton midfield, but added: ”It was a great season for Everton and myself, except that I was obviously disappointed to lose in the FC Cup final.
”But I was thrilled to have been part of the final and to have played at Wembley; it was an experience of a lifetime.”
Santana breathed a huge sigh of relief when Pienaar came through a long session on Wednesday and knows that with Pienaar, Teko Modise, Elrio van Heerden, Benson Mhlongo and Israel-based Siyabonga Nkosi in his midfield, Bafana should be able to boost morale with a win over Poland. — Sapa