Bafana Bafana
Bafana players shine in Europe
2012-04-10 18:49
Johannesburg - With critical World Cup qualifying games looming in June, captain Steven Pienaar spearheaded a succession of encouraging performances by Bafana Bafana players in Europe over the Easter weekend.
Pienaar, who has regained much of his verve and confidence in the English Premiership following his loan to former club Everton from Tottenham Hotspur, was prominent in both the Merseyside team's 2-2 draw with Norwich City and Monday's 4-0 drubbing of Sunderland at Goodison Park.
The diminutive midfielder helped initiate one of the goals against Norwich and then scored himself against Sunderland.
Pienaar has also been a key factor in Everton moving steadily up the English Premier League table to seventh position, vaulting Merseyside rivals Liverpool in the process.
Meanwhile, burgeoning Bafana midfielder Daylon Claasen was among the scorers in the Belgian Premier League, helping Lierse to a narrow 2-1 victory over close rivals Mechelen.
Elsewhere in the Belgian League, Bafana fullback Anele Ngcongca was reported to have produced another high quality performance in Genk's 2-0 victory over Gent.
The Swedish league's Player of the Year last season, May Mahlangu, again caught the eye in Helsinborg's 2-1 victory over Elfsborg and provided further evidence that he could emerge a key influence in the Bafana line-up in the critical period leading up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.