Source: Team_Talk
Pienaar calls for SA team effort
Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar insists only a solid team effort can take South Africa to World Cup glory this summer.[LNB] The Toffees star initially struggled to make an impact on the international stage after debuting for the Bafana Bafana in 2002. [LNB]But he enters the tournament with the weight of the host nation's expectations on his shoulders after delivering some superb displays both during South Africa's Conferations Cup campaign last year and with the Toffees. [LNB]South Africa will take on Mexico in the World Cup opener on Friday, and 28-year-old Pienaar has called for his side to perform as a team. [LNB]"Now we have the World Cup and it's a big ask but I know I have my team-mates to support me," Pienaar told The Independent. [LNB]"We have to be together and hopefully we can satisfy the people by doing that. When the team is playing good and we are winning, there won't be any talk about just Steven Pienaar, it will be the whole team."[LNB]Pienaar has heaped praise on Everton manager David Moyes, insisting the boss has had a huge impact on his career. [LNB]"I've often wondered when he gets chance to go to sleep because he is the hardest working manager I've ever come across," he said. [LNB]"The gaffer has always been there to help me. He's the one who took me to England and had a lot of confidence in me. [LNB]"When someone shows you that kind of respect you really want to pay them back someday."[LNB]Pienaar has enjoyed improved goal-scoring with the Toffees this season and is hoping to carry that form into the World Cup for South Africa having bagged just two goals in 50 appearances for his country. [LNB]"I think it's because I'm more of a team player but my coaches have always wanted me to score more goals," he added. [LNB]"I've been trying to be more selfish and shooting instead of passing sometimes and my composure has definitely improved. But I would be happy [LNB]if I didn't score any and the team won."
