'Pienaar's injury not a crisis'

The Bafana Bafana mentor was speaking at the Fairmont Heliopolis hotel ahead of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier penciled for the Cairo Military Academy Stadium on Sunday at 20h30.

Bafana skipper Pienaar, who was injured on Thursday after Happy Jele attempted to block a shot, is racing against time to be fit for the clash, but it appears at this stage that he would sit out this match as he hasn’t been training with the team yet, but rather stretching and running around the field.

Mosimane says he is crossing his fingers for Pienaar, but adds the latter is not irreplaceable.

“He is undergoing medical treatment and obviously we have our fingers crossed that he comes out and lead the team, but we have ‘Shaba’ [Siphiwe Tshabalala] to lead the team in case Steven is not there. We are waiting for the doctor’s instructions and we still have almost 24 hours from now and we are hoping he makes it,” he says.

“If he doesn’t make it then we have Plan B. We have said it before… yes it will be a disappointment but it is not a crisis.”

However, ‘Jingles’ has declined to comment on who would step in for Pienaar if the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder doesn’t make it.

“It is easy for me to tell you the starting lineup and I think you know me, the team is set and ready. Today is not about what coach [Hassan] Shehata is playing and I change, no.

“I can give you the team sheet today, but if the team sheet comes out the day before it unsettles the players and it creates more stress and pressure on the players. I like to keep peace and harmony in the team,” Mosimane adds.

By Tiyani wa ka Mabasa in Cairo CLICK HERE  to see Pitso Mosimane talking about Steven Pienaar