English Premier League - Player Profile: Everton’s Steven Pienaar
Steven Pienaar was born in South Africa on March 17, 1982. He plays as a winger or a second striker for the English Premier League club, Everton. Pienaar started off his career in South Africa with Ajax Cape Town (in 1999).
His birth took place in the city of Westbury, Johannesburg. Pienaar’s first professional club was Ajax Cape Town, which is situated around 870 miles away from Johannesburg. He rose to prominence in South Africa after playing for the School of Excellence, where Ajax CT’s scouts spotted his talent. The young South African midfielder was offered a spot at the club’s youth academy which he duly took up.
Later on in his career, Pienaar said in an interview tha, he was quite fortunate to go to the School of Excellence in the year 2000. He also stated that the school allowed him to refine his technique and talent that God has bestowed upon him. He also said in the same interview that he was lucky to work with the Dutch coach, Leo Van Veen, who helped the young winger at Ajax Cape town.
During his time with Ajax Cape Town, Pienaar had a successful time, as he won the Rothman’s Cup after the South African giants beat Orlando Pirates by four goals to one in the final match of the tournament. This final match also turned out to be his final game for Ajax Cape Town, as in the early winter of 2001, Pienaar made a switch from the South African football league to the Dutch football league.
After his eighteenth birthday, in January 2001, Ajax Amsterdam from Eredivisie signed Steven Pienaar from Ajax Cape Town in South Africa. However, the skilful youngster did not make his debut until the 24th of February 2002, when he featured in Ajax’s one-nil win over NAC Breda. In the following seasons, Steven became an important member of Ajax’s squad that won the league in 2002 and again repeated the feat in 2004. Steven played alongside Ajax’s youngsters who later on became superstars; these footballers included names such as Ibrahimovic, Maxwell, Chivu, Mido, Nigel De Jong, Rafael Van Der Vaart, Wesley Sneijder, John Heitinga and Andy van der Meyde.
After spending around six years at Ajax Amsterdam in Holland’s football league division one, in January of 2006, it was announced that the German club Borussia Dortmund had signed Steven Pienaar on a three year deal from Ajax. At Dortmund, he was seen by many as a replacement for the departing Tomas Rosicky. At Borussia Dortmund, Steven was given the number ten shirt which was vacated by Rosicky. However, his tenure in the German league was never quite as successful as it was expected to be, because the players did not accept him as a part of the club and he also found it difficult to adapt to the German style of play.
For the 2007-2008 season, Pienaar was sent on loan to the English Premier League side Everton. Later on, at the end of the loan period, Pienaar’s move to Everton was made permanent as Dortmund and Everton agreed on a two million pound transfer fee in the month of April, 2008. Steven’s Premier League debut for Everton came against Wigan Athletic and his first goal for the blue half of Merseyside came in Everton’s two nil win over Middlesbrough in September 2007.
Ever since his move to Everton, Pienaar has done very well and has achieved fame with Everton’s faithful fans. Steven will be looking to continue his spectacular performances with Everton in the upcoming 2010-2011 season.
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