Source: Daily_Mail
WORLD CUP 2010: Everton star Steven Pienaar insists South Africa can reach the last eight
South Africa midfielder Steven Pienaar believes the host nation can reach the World Cup quarter-finals at the least. [LNB] Bafana Bafana kick off their campaign against Mexico on June 11 before further group games against Uruguay and France. [LNB]Confident: Pienaar insists the hosts can reach the last eight [LNB]All three teams are ranked higher than South Africa by FIFA, but Everton man Pienaar is confident the hosts can upset the odds. [LNB]'I rate our chances of doing well in the tournament very high. In fact I am very confident that we will go further than the second round,' he said in Johannesburg today. [LNB]'We are definitely ready to go because the confidence is there, the spirit is there and I believe we will do well. [LNB]'The team has been doing well and I have been following their progress since they started with the training camps - Durban, Brazil and Germany - because I am part and parcel of the team even though I was not there. As for me, I am hopeful that I will get a chance to play against Colombia.' [LNB]Pienaar was left on the bench in South Africa's 1-1 draw with Bulgaria on Monday. They take on Colombia on another friendly tomorrow in a warm-up for their tournament opener against Mexico. [LNB]'As an individual I have always believed in myself, and I hope in the national team I will carry on the way I finished the season at my club,' he added. 'I know a few players of Colombia and it's going to be a big test for us, but I think the closer we get to the World Cup the better we play the likes of Colombia. [LNB]'They are very strong and have good players, and also the kind of football they play is South American - more like the Mexican way. [LNB]'So come June 11 we will be prepared, and we will play our kind of football so we not so worried about Mexico at the moment.' [LNB] Pienaar's agent tells Everton to get a move on as Tottenham prepare bidMan United, Spurs and Liverpool on alert as Pienaar rejects Everton deal [LNB] [LNB]
