Everton Football Club News

• Nickname:Toffees
• Founded:1878
• Manager:David Moyes

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Moyes plays down Pienaar row

18 Nov 2008 - 11:44:41

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Everton manager David Moyes is baffled as to why South Africa are upset by his refusal to allow Steven Pienaar to team up with the rest of the Bafana Bafana squad.

South Africa are scheduled to play Cameroon in a friendly this week but Pienaar will not feature in the game as he continues to be hampered by a knee injury.

The South African team manager, Sipho Nkumane, is quoted as being upset about the situation, but Moyes insists there is no reason for the matter to be blown up out of all proportion.

He said: "Steven didn't start our game against Middlesbrough on Sunday because he wasn't fit enough to do so.

"We brought him on in the second half but it was clear that he wasn't comfortable and after the game it was a straightforward decision not to send him to join up with South Africa.

"We notified the South African FA immediately and we will monitor him this week.

"We couldn't have notified them any quicker and, if the coach had been at our match on Sunday, he'd have seen for himself that Steven was struggling."