Toffees loan lifts Pienaar
BAFANA Bafana captain Steven Pienaar got some peace of mind minutes before the January transfer window closed on Tuesday night - a loan deal back to his former club Everton until the end of the season.
LOAN DEAL CANCELLED: Tottenham Hotspur defender Bongani Khumalo is back at the club.Photo: Gallo ImagesMixed emotions to leave Spurs on loan to Everton. Disappointed I couldn't get in a playing groove on a regular basis and show the fans the real me
Pienaar, who joined Tottenham Hotspur from the Toffees halfway through last season, was frustrated at White Hart Lane, having made only two English Premier League appearances this season.
Spurs manager Harry Redknapp was reluctant to release the South African skipper, but an agreement that saw striker Luis Saha go the other way softened Redknapp's stance.
Minutes before 11pm on Tuesday, the UK deadline for transfers, and after Spurs' 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic that night, Redknapp said: "Steven Pienaar wants to go on loan to Everton and I am trying to hide from him. I told David Moyes (Everton manager) if I could get the player I wanted he could have Steven on loan."
By midnight, Spurs had confirmed on their website that Pienaar would rejoin his former team, where he was voted player of the year the season before he left.
In all competitions since his arrival at the north London club, Pienaar had made 18 appearances. He was also being chased by Queens Park Rangers, whose £3million (R36,8million) offer was consider too low by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.
Pienaar spoke about his frustrations at Spurs on Twitter.
"Mixed emotions to leave Spurs on loan to Everton. Disappointed I couldn't get in a playing groove on a regular basis and show the fans the real me. Manager needs to make his choices, I understand, but I love playing and just can't sit so much on the bench. It was killing my spirit," he tweeted.
"Very thankful that Spurs management allowed me to go on loan and I'm very happy it could be to Everton, a club close to my heart.
"Soon on the road to Liverpool. Familiar journey. Looking forward."
With one South African out of the door temporarily, Spurs welcomed another on deadline day.
Bongani Khumalo returned to the club after Reading ended his season-long loan because he was just not good enough to earn a spot in the English Championship side's starting line-up. But, the former SuperSport United defender could still be sent out on another loan deal. Even though the transfer window is closed, Championship clubs can still loan players from the Premiership between February 8 and March 26.
In the Absa Premiership, Mamelodi Sundowns gave clearances to Matthew Pattison and Koketso Mmotong. The two players had five months remaining on their contracts.
Pattison failed to secure a team in the UK, with Leeds United and Scottish club Hibernian not offering him a contract.
He has joined Santos for the remainder of the season, but is set to head back to Europe in search of a club to be closer to his family.
Mmotong spent the second half of last season helping Moroka Swallows escape relegation, but was recalled by Sundowns. He has signed with National First Division side Mpumalanga Black Aces.
Leonidusreturns
Pattison and Mmotong-2 more careers in limbo all because of Sundowns. Sundowns sucks d!ck big time!!!Report Abuse
golezwa
that is why even when Motsepe apparently said Myeni should name his price, Myeni couldnt cos he could sense that the same situation can happen to him. Khosi4lifeReport Abuse
PhiriMapetla1
This Pattison boy is an opportunist, he come back from europe hoping to get a piece in the Bafana Bafana (2010) world cup and that he didn't make it now he want to go back to europe. How can you make it there if you fail in SA. Ur such an opportunist never patriotic sucker...Report Abuse
ThirdEye
I really don't want to be in Bongani Khumalo's situation, I think it stressful.Report Abuse
PhiriMapetla1
@PhiriMapetla1So what!!!!
He shouldn't have come here in the first place. we dont need those europian reject here...not here chief
Report Abuse
PhiriMapetla1
Bongani must come back home that's it. he can get paid big buck @pirates or sundowns. He even fail to maik it in the champion league.Report Abuse
Leonidusreturns
PhiriMapetla1@PhiriMapetla1
So what!!!!
He shouldn't have come here in the first place. we dont need those europian reject here...not here chief
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Who are you tell the clubs who to buy and not to buy. So you dont agree with Benni being back?
Report Abuse
PhiriMapetla1
He started his career @7stars maybe you were not warching soccer by then, ubusayi laidy son.Report Abuse
Leonidusreturns
I know that sir, and from there he went straight to Ajax Amsterdam before Ajax Cape Town startedReport Abuse