Difficult test for Steven Pienaar
Difficult test for Pienaar
Posted: 2010-09-10 12:46
Bafana Bafana star Steven Pienaar faces a tough test on Saturday as his Everton side welcome Manchester United to Goodison Park.
This fixture was won 3-1 by Everton last season, but after The Toffees' stuttering start to the campaign, it would be something of a surprise were they to repeat that scoreline.
Still, they have not been beaten at home in the League in almost a year, a run that includes back-to-back wins over United and Chelsea.
Kagisho Dikgacoi is back from injury and in the reckoning for Fulham as they host Wolves at Craven Cottage, while Benni McCarthy, who has reportedly lost seven kilograms in his battle against the bulge, will hope to feature as dreadful West Ham take on high-flying Chelsea.
In Belgium, Siboniso Gaxa could make his debut for Lierse on Saturday … against the team who rejected him while on trial last week!
As fate would have it, the Belgian Jupiler League fixture list has Lierse taking on AA Gent at home this weekend, and Gaxa will be hoping to make his first appearance against the side who felt he did not have the physique or the pace to compete in that League.
Lierse have lost all five of their Jupiler League games so far, conceding 12 goals in the process, and could have Gaxa's compatriots Daylon Claasen and Lance Davids in their line-up too.
Elrio van Heerden should start for Westerlo against Lokeren on Sunday, while Anele Ngcongca, so impressive for Bafana against Niger, returns to League action with his table-topping Genk side facing a tough away day at Club Brugge.
One of the heroes for Bafana against Niger, Bernard Parker, will hope he plays a bigger role for Dutch champions FC Twente at Venlo on Saturday, having been an unused substitute in the last few matches.
Macbeth Sibaya's hopes of winning a third Russian League title in a row with Rubin Kazan hang by a thread, and nothing short of victory at home to Amkar on Saturday will see the Tartarstan club stay in the running.
Patrick Phungwayo and his Panionios side tackle Zanthi on Sunday in the Greek League, while his former Bidvest Wits teammate Calvin Kadi should start for Portimonense in the Portuguese League against Rio Ave.
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