Pienaar blow for Everton
David Moyes could be without Stephen Pienaar for up to seven matches
Sunday, 06, Jan 2008 03:48
Stephen Pienaar will miss Everton's Carling Cup semi-final against Chelsea after being ordered to join up with the South Africa squad.
Pienaar will meet with the squad in Pretoria today ahead of the African Cup of Nations, having pleaded to join up after the first leg of the semi-final against the Blues on Tuesday.
Everton boss David Moyes has Yakubu and Joseph Yobo available at Stamford Bridge, as the duo have been given permission to play before joining up with the Nigeria squad.
But Pienaar, 25, and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Aaron Mokoena will fly out today to join the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of their friendly against Mozambique on January 13th.
Morio Sanyane, the director of communications for the South African Football Association, said allowing Pienaar to play against Chelsea would have set a dangerous precedent.
"Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira wanted to help out domestic clubs but realised that if he allowed Pienaar to stay he would have to let the other players attend late as well," Sanyane said.
"This would not be in the best interest of the team. I'm sure Pienaar will be disappointed that he is missing out on this game, but the consolation is that he will have the opportunity to play against the greatest players in Africa.
"It was a difficult decision to make, but at the end of the day, your country must come first."
South Africa play another friendly against Botswana on January 16th, ahead of the tournament in Ghana which starts five days later.
The situation over when players join up with their countries has already sparked a row between Barcelona and Cameroon. The Spanish giants claim they reached an agreement to allow Samuel Eto'o to stay for another week, but Cameroon want the striker to join up with his team-mates tomorrow.