CELEBRATED South African soccer star Steven "Schillo" Pienaar has described this season as the best of his career.
CELEBRATED South African soccer star Steven "Schillo" Pienaar has described this season as the best of his career.
The influential Bafana Bafana player is in line for English Premiership club Everton's player of the season award. He is being challenged by Marouane Fellaini of Belgium.
Pienaar, who has bounced back with a bang after being sidelined for almost two months by a knee injury, attributed his recent appetite for goals to hard work at training and during matches. The Transnet Football School of Excellence's most successful graduate missed 11 of his club's matches because of injury, and four for Bafana Bafana.
Pienaar started 2010 on a high note by scoring a brilliant goal against giants Arsenal to help the Toffees earn a 2-2 draw two weeks ago.
On Saturday, Pienaar grabbed another goal when Everton beat Manchester City 2-0.
"From what I remember now that I have seen it, I think I will say it is the most beautiful goal I have scored," he said of the goal against Arsenal.
"This has been the greatest season of my career and I am enjoying every moment. For me it's not only about scoring goals, I just want to contribute to the success of my team."
With Everton lying 10th on the English Premiership log, Pienaar said they wanted to maintain their winning momentum until the end of the season.
Everton will have to finish in the top four to qualify for the European Champions League.
"Anything can happen in football. We must just continue working hard. You will never ever know what will happen with other teams above us," he said.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's FA Cup game against Birmingham, Pienaar said it would also be great to crown the season by winning a gold medal. He had to settle for silver last season after Everton lost to Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.
"We are working hard to win silverware this season," Pienaar said.
Besides Pienaar, the other African players at Goodison Park are Nigerians Ayegbeni Yakubu, Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe.
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This has been greatest season of my career: Schillo
CELEBRATED South African soccer star Steven "Schillo" Pienaar has described this season as the best of his career.
CELEBRATED South African soccer star Steven "Schillo" Pienaar has described this season as the best of his career.
The influential Bafana Bafana player is in line for English Premiership club Everton's player of the season award. He is being challenged by Marouane Fellaini of Belgium.
Pienaar, who has bounced back with a bang after being sidelined for almost two months by a knee injury, attributed his recent appetite for goals to hard work at training and during matches. The Transnet Football School of Excellence's most successful graduate missed 11 of his club's matches because of injury, and four for Bafana Bafana.
Pienaar started 2010 on a high note by scoring a brilliant goal against giants Arsenal to help the Toffees earn a 2-2 draw two weeks ago.
On Saturday, Pienaar grabbed another goal when Everton beat Manchester City 2-0.
"From what I remember now that I have seen it, I think I will say it is the most beautiful goal I have scored," he said of the goal against Arsenal.
"This has been the greatest season of my career and I am enjoying every moment. For me it's not only about scoring goals, I just want to contribute to the success of my team."
With Everton lying 10th on the English Premiership log, Pienaar said they wanted to maintain their winning momentum until the end of the season.
Everton will have to finish in the top four to qualify for the European Champions League.
"Anything can happen in football. We must just continue working hard. You will never ever know what will happen with other teams above us," he said.
Speaking ahead of Saturday's FA Cup game against Birmingham, Pienaar said it would also be great to crown the season by winning a gold medal. He had to settle for silver last season after Everton lost to Portsmouth in the FA Cup final.
"We are working hard to win silverware this season," Pienaar said.
Besides Pienaar, the other African players at Goodison Park are Nigerians Ayegbeni Yakubu, Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe.
lSee page 29