Bafana Bafana star Steven Pienaar has refuted allegations that he feigned an ankle injury to miss this week’s crucial Africa Cup of Nations match against Senegal.
Insiders within Bafana Bafana claimed that team doctor Ephraim Nematswerani had passed Pienaar fit to play but he did not want to, as he was eager to play for his English Premiership club Everton this weekend. He allegedly twisted his ankle at training after contact with Sibusiso Zuma. But video footage from e-tv shows that Zuma did not touch Pienaar, adding fuel to the injury accusations. On the day of the match Pienaar walked without limping or any sign of pain .
The claims intensified because Pienaar flew directly to England from Ghana while the rest of the players, including Aaron Mokoena, who also plays in the English League, travelled to SA first. Ironically, Everton played against Mokoena’s team, Blackburn Rovers, yesterday.
“I am injured and will be out for three weeks. I am not that stupid and I don’t care what anybody says. I was having a good tournament and would have loved to play.
“This is just nonsense,” said a livid Pienaar at the team hotel after the match.
Earlier, Pienaar was at the centre of controversy when Everton coach David Moyes wanted to release him late for the Bafana Bafana camp. Fifa laws stipulates that clubs have to release players 14 days before the tournament starts. Moyes tried to bend the rules when he said that it was 14 days before SA’s opening match and not before the official start of the event.
Safa then stepped in and approached Fifa who forced Everton to release the player . The former Ajax Amsterdam product was easily SA’s best player in Ghana.
T eam doctor Nematswerani was not available for comment as the squad were travelling back to SA.
Really cant see it though.
