Clever move for Steven Pienaar
BRAAMFONTEIN – Welcome to Wits FC Steven 'Schillo' Pienaar
Former Bafana Bafana captain Steven Pienaar is officially a player for ABSA premiership champions Bidvest Wits following his release from relegated English Premier League side Sunderland.
Pienaar (35), who started his career playing for Ajax Cape Town in 1999, received European interest after just two seasons with the Cape Town team. He went on to be signed by Ajax Amsterdam where he played five seasons. In his time at Ajax, he scored 18 goals and won the Rothman’s Cup in 2000, the league title in the 2001/2002 and 2003/2004 seasons, the KNVB Cup in 2002 and 2006, and the Johan Cruijff Shield in 2002 and 2005.
German club Borussia Dortmund acquired Pienaar’s services in 2006. His stay there was not successful after failing to score in 27 appearances. He was then loaned out to English club Everton the following season and was transferred permanently the season after that (2008).
During his nine seasons at Everton, he appeared in 109 matches and scored 24 goals. From 2010 to 2012 he played for London club Tottenham Hotspurs where he only played 18 matches and scored one goal.
In 2016, he reunited with his former Everton coach, David Moyes at Sunderland and made 15 appearances.
Sunderland was in the relegation zone for most of the season and was eventually relegated.
Pienaar also captained Bafana Bafana and played 33 matches for South Africa. In 2009, he was named Safa player of the year and in 2010, Everton’s player of the season.
His return to South African football should be an interesting one as Wits will be competing for multiple honours including the CAF Champions League.
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