HOME > NEWS > STEVEN PIENAAR AND ANDREW SURMAN SHINE IN ENGLAND

Steven Pienaar and Andrew Surman shine in England

Pienaar, Surman shine in England

Posted: 2012-02-06 09:45

Steven Pienaar made a successful return for Everton on Saturday, Andrew Surman scored yet another English Premiership goal, and Tsepo Masilela put in a good shift against Real Madrid as South Africans shone in Europe this weekend.

Bafana Bafana skipper Pienaar was handed a starting berth by Everton coach David Moyes following his loan return to the club from Tottenham Hotspur and was described by his boss as the best player on the pitch in the 1-1 draw at Wigan Athletic.

“Steven Pienaar was the best Everton player. He came back and looked as if he hadn't been away,” Moyes said. “He was involved in a lot of bits where we looked as if we were on the verge of making things happen but things just broke down around the edge of the box, but Steven Pienaar played really well.”

Pienaar was delighted too, tweeting: “Fantastic getting 90 minutes under my belt. Would have liked a winning return but I'm sure we will make up for it next game.”

That next game is against Chelsea this coming weekend, where he will hope to add to his first League start since May.

Surman netted his fourth goal in 14 starts on the left-wing for Norwich City as they claimed another scalp in the form of Bolton Wanderers, winning 2-0. He continues to impress.

In the Championship, Kagisho Dikgacoi played the full 90 minutes as he helped his Crystal Palace side to a good 0-0 away draw at high-flying Middlesborough.

Aaron Mokoena’s Portsmouth had their game with Hull City postponed due to the weather, while Kgosi Ntlhe (Peterborough United) and Davide Somma (Leeds United) were not involved with their clubs; the latter still to fully recover from a knee injury.

In Spain, Masilela played the full game as Getafe lost 1-0 at home to city rivals Real Madrid, despite being troubled by a thigh injury. It will have yet another fine learning experience for the Bafana left-back in what many consider the best league in the world.

In Belgium, Daylon Claasen and Lance Davids both started for Lierse as they lost 2-0 at home to Standard Liege. Siboniso Gaxa was suspended.

Ayanda Patosi also started for Lokeren as they won 3-1 at home to Mons, but goalkeeper Darren Keet was back on the bench for Kortrijk in their 0-0 draw away at Mechelen.

Anele Ngcongca was on the receiving end of a 4-2 defeat for Genk on Sunday as they stumbled away at Anderlecht on Sunday, and the defending champions now have some work to do to make the championship play-offs. The top six teams compete in those.

Dino Ndlovu played for Israeli side Bnei Yehuda in their 1-1 draw with Hapoel Nir, but there is still no sign of Bevan Fransman for Hapoel Tel Aviv. He has not played for them since December 5.

Calvin Kadi had his midweek and weekend games postponed in Greece as players there embark on a strike over health insurance for players.

Bradley Grobler missed the match for his Turkish second tier side Goztepe through injury as they drew 1-1 with Çaykur Rizespor.

It was back to the bench for Kamohelo Mokotjo for Feyenoord following the return of Moroccan international Karim El Ahmadi from the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

He came on as a second-half sub in the 2-0 away win over NEC, while Thulani Serero continues to be sidelines as struggling Ajax Amsterdam, who lost again this weekend, at home to Utrecht.

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Clever boys: 2012-02-06 10:05

what is the story about surman. why he is not picked up i think he will refuse now to play for bafana.

Dooba OPC: 2012-02-06 11:08

And a certain man called Pitso will cry fould, saying "give me the players who will score", forgetting that you dont needs scorers if you dont have players, if you have the best players who create scoring opportunities without fear of oppoents, then scoring will come automatically...

The same sanctions that befell the once outspoken youth leader of a certain part should face this national coach, period! His must be an indefinite suspension with no possibility of appeal or come back!!!!

PSG55: 2012-02-06 11:51

Basically Surman is available to play for Bafana and there are rumours that Parreira approached him. However, he says he has never been approached by anyone in South Africa. He has played for England Under-21's (his parents are British and he was raised and educated in the UK) but he's said he would play for SA if he was called up.

kasiologist: 2012-02-06 12:46

Bsically, just like Somma, he cannot get a call up from England which he qualifies to play for, so SA is the next best thing. A nation as desperate as this is a danger to itself.

On the subject though, I think Masilela is doing great in La Liga, handled himself very well against the might of the Galaticos. Great to see Pienaar getting game time also.

Lance de Bucs : 2012-02-06 12:59

It was great to see most SA players getting a taste of action in their respective clubs.. It is Thulani Serero that I'm worried about, I think he should move to a team like Feyernood.. I think it will take time for him to adapt to Ajax's way of play..

Marlon: 2012-02-06 13:08

Parriera when to see him play when he was at Southampton, and was going to ask him to play for Bafana. Stuart Pierce the coach of England U21 was at the same match. Both coached pleaded their case. The rest is history. This is no rumour, its reality.

The media in this country is forcing this guy on us, when he has already rejected us. There is no shame in this, he does not know South Africa, and has no relations to us, except been born here.

Pn31 : 2012-02-06 13:41

Mzanzi has the talent but we lack strikers..

aaron konopi : 2012-02-06 14:03

l am happy for pienaar,men l like it enjoy your soccer,focus

Sox: 2012-02-06 15:18

@Marlon: Surman said it himself that he was NEVER approached and he would be happy to play for SA, now its up to you to believe rumours about Parriera or from the horse's mouth, so again we have to try everything in our power to entice good talent to represent this mighty nation, remember Hans Vonk,Buckley,Issa and Somma they all have similar cases with Surman so what you saying about SA being the birth place having no merit in this is totaly baseless. on that note i watched all three games involving SA's best in the world Peanuts,Surman and Masilela both had good games, it was nice to see Masilela stamping his ground one on one with Ronaldo and that Surman boy oh boy he is just a marvel to watch just imagine this midfield KG,Peanut,Surman and May then you Somma and Mphela upfront.

Marlon: 2012-02-06 15:28

Sox - the Parriera trip is well documented. But wait, I will give everybody the proof. This is an article from the "Mirror Newspaper" back in 2007. Have a good read.........



Southampton 3-2 Stoke

By Ann Gripper 27/08/2007

Andrew Surman turned 21 last Monday, and Saturday's performance against Stoke showed he is truly coming of age on the pitch as well.

The presence of England Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce and South Africa boss Carlos Alberto Parreira could have been an added distraction for Johannesburg-born and English-bred Surman.

But the youngster seized the opportunity to make an impression.

Playing on the left of midfield, Surman scored Saints' first goal with the kind of left-footed scorcher which helped £10million Spurs full-back Gareth Bale make his name on the south coast after the Potters had gone ahead through Ricardo Fuller.

And Southampton academy graduate Surman built on his goal in the second half, providing a pin-point cross for Grzegorz Rasiak to head home Saints' second, then Jhon Viafara benefiting when the Stoke defence could not clear another dangerous centre to further stretch the lead.

Sub Jon Parkin powered in a header from an 81stminute corner to give the visitors hope, but Saints held on to secure their first points of the season.

Marlon: 2012-02-06 15:30

Surman chose England. live with it.

PS. Delron Buckley was born, raised in Mzansi. He left for Germany when he was 16 years old. Don't confuse yourselves.

Sox: 2012-02-06 19:42

Marlon: you left out this on that very same article: Surman himself said: "I had an inkling they were watching, but you don't really think about it because you would put pressure on yourself."

As for the question of his preference, he was sensibly non-committal: "It's nice to be wanted but we'll just have to see."
Surman's exquisite 25-yard strike drew Southampton level after Stoke, who led the table at the start of the day, had gone ahead through Ricardo Fuller.
and the following on fourfourtwo.com:Andrew Surman


Norwich City midfielder Andrew Surman shares his hopes and dreams with FourFourTwo back in June 2007, when he was a 20-year-old with Southampton.

Nickname
Drew, which isn't very original, but a few lads now call me Helmet because of my haircut.

Club supported as a boy
Southampton, since I moved here from Johannesburg when I was eight. My first game in England was at The Dell: Matt le Tissier scored a hat-trick and Saints won. It hasn't been such plain sailing since though!

Strengths
Passing. We're always taught the importance of retaining possession and so I guess that's just been ingrained in me since an early age. I'm pretty versatile, too, and have played everywhere across the midfield at Saints and even had a spell playing just off the front two when I was on loan at Walsall and Bournemouth.

Weaknesses
I've got a pretty decent shot but I've only scored three league goals all season so maybe that's something I need to work on.

I play a bit like...
I'd like to say I'm similar to Ronaldinho but I think I might get a bit of stick! I haven't modelled my game on any player in particular, so I'd say at the moment I'm unique!

Highlight
Definitely the hat-trick against Barnsley in February. We had drawn our previous three matches and we really wanted to put on a good show for our fans. We ended up winning 5-2 and I walked off with the match ball, which was just amazing.

Lowlights
Nothing too devastating yet, but losing 3-1 at St Mary's to Watford in front of the Sky cameras last season wasn't particularly pleasant. The recent defeat to Colchester on a Friday night wasn't great either.

Toughest opponent
I would have to say I wouldn't fancy coming up against John Hartson every week. I played against him at our place in August and he's a bit of a bruiser.

Best player played with
Gareth Bale: he's a top player and he's done a great job for us so far this season. He's got a lot of attention but he's handled everything brilliantly.

Biggest influence
My dad has helped me so much. George Burley has been great too. He gave me my chance at the start of the season and has shown a lot of faith in me.

Best advice given
Always keep your feet on the ground, although it's not very helpful at corners.

Biggest practical joker
Kelvin Davis is always up to no good and Gareth Bale gets laughs in the dress