FOOTBALL
Steven Pienaar released by South African champions Bidvest Wits
The former Everton midfielder and Bafana Bafana star was released by the South African champions after six months at the club.
Former Everton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Ajax attacking midfielder, Steven Pienaar, has been released by South African champions Bidvest Wits after just six months at the club.
The 35-year-old former Bafana Bafana star made only ten appearances this season, six of which were off the bench, from 18 Premiership and League Cup matches.
Currently, Wits lie bottom of the ABSA Premiership table, having achieved only two victories from 14 matches.
Pienaar’s spell at Wits meant his return to South Africa following a 16-year spell in Europe.
“His signing just didn’t work,” Wits coach
Wits coach, Gavin Hunt, said that Pienaar’s return to South Africa at the Bidvest Wits “just not work out”.
Pienaar struggled to adjust to style of play in South Africa
“I think it’s just been a bit disappointing‚ because‚ you know‚ it’s just one of those things in football,” Hunt told TimesLive on Wednesday.
'It just maybe didn’t work. Maybe the PSL is a different animal at the moment. It’s a very counterattack type of game.
“Turnover of possession is huge so the game goes from end to end – the midfield players don’t get time to get a breather on the ball.
“The tempo is different. It’s fast‚ fast‚ fast‚ fast. There’s no quick‚ slow‚ and then fast.
“So maybe‚ Steven having not played much the season before‚ and our preseason maybe was not very hard or heavy‚ because we looked a bit leggy ourselves‚ found it hard.”
Wits’ other movements
Along with Pienaar, the Montenegrin center-back Slavko Damjanovic also departs, who was sent off on his debut in August and ended up playing only six games.
As replacements, Wits have signed Bafana Bafana striker Lehlohonolo Majoro and Ghanaian international Edwin Gyimah.