A NUMBER of South Africa's overseas contingent will be involved in crucial club matches tonight that could go some way to shaping their seasons.
In England, former Bafana Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar goes to Old Trafford for a reunion with former boss David Moyes as Everton look to achieve something Moyes never managed in his 11 years with The Toffees - a win at Manchester United.
But more than the bragging rights, with the race for the top four and Champions League football likely to be tight this season, these are the kinds of matches Pienaar and Everton need to win if they are to stand a chance.
They could end the night in joint second with Chelsea if they win and other results go their way, with new boss Roberto Martinez promising they will "go for it" at Old Trafford, in contrast to the conservative approach adopted by Moyes against the so-called big guns in his tenure with the team.
Should Everton be successful it is likely Pienaar will be at the heart of it. He has been in a scintillating form so far this campaign.
All three South Africans in the Belgian top flight will be involved in the sixth round of the country's version of the FA Cup tonight as well, and for Darren Keet and Ayanda Patosi, it is perhaps their only chance of silverware this season.
Keet's Kortrijk, finalists in the competition in 2011 when they lost to Patosi's Lokeren, have perhaps the hardest task as they host second-placed Club Brugge. Only three clubs have conceded fewer goals than Kortrijk in Belgium this season, testimony to Keet's fine form, but one of those is tonight's opponents.
Patosi visits strugglers Waasland-Beveren, who have won just one of their 17 league games so far this season.
The Bafana star has started from the bench in recent games and will be looking for a return to the starting line-up for this clash.
Anele Ngcongca and his Genk team are at mid-table Mechelen in a game they will expect to win. Genk are also chasing silverware in the Belgian league and the Europa League. Should Ngcongca's team advance, they will face the winner of the tie between KV Oostende and Lierse in the quarterfinals, while Kortrijk would set up a date with Gent or OH Leuven.
Finally, SA-born Lukas Schenkel will hope to feature when his Swiss side FC Thun take on Grasshoppers in the quarterfinals of that country's cup competition.
Toffees need Pienaar to find the sweet spot
A NUMBER of South Africa's overseas contingent will be involved in crucial club matches tonight that could go some way to shaping their seasons.
In England, former Bafana Bafana skipper Steven Pienaar goes to Old Trafford for a reunion with former boss David Moyes as Everton look to achieve something Moyes never managed in his 11 years with The Toffees - a win at Manchester United.
But more than the bragging rights, with the race for the top four and Champions League football likely to be tight this season, these are the kinds of matches Pienaar and Everton need to win if they are to stand a chance.
They could end the night in joint second with Chelsea if they win and other results go their way, with new boss Roberto Martinez promising they will "go for it" at Old Trafford, in contrast to the conservative approach adopted by Moyes against the so-called big guns in his tenure with the team.
Should Everton be successful it is likely Pienaar will be at the heart of it. He has been in a scintillating form so far this campaign.
All three South Africans in the Belgian top flight will be involved in the sixth round of the country's version of the FA Cup tonight as well, and for Darren Keet and Ayanda Patosi, it is perhaps their only chance of silverware this season.
Keet's Kortrijk, finalists in the competition in 2011 when they lost to Patosi's Lokeren, have perhaps the hardest task as they host second-placed Club Brugge. Only three clubs have conceded fewer goals than Kortrijk in Belgium this season, testimony to Keet's fine form, but one of those is tonight's opponents.
Patosi visits strugglers Waasland-Beveren, who have won just one of their 17 league games so far this season.
The Bafana star has started from the bench in recent games and will be looking for a return to the starting line-up for this clash.
Anele Ngcongca and his Genk team are at mid-table Mechelen in a game they will expect to win. Genk are also chasing silverware in the Belgian league and the Europa League. Should Ngcongca's team advance, they will face the winner of the tie between KV Oostende and Lierse in the quarterfinals, while Kortrijk would set up a date with Gent or OH Leuven.
Finally, SA-born Lukas Schenkel will hope to feature when his Swiss side FC Thun take on Grasshoppers in the quarterfinals of that country's cup competition.
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