English Premiership
No regrets for Spurs' Pienaar
2011-11-16 09:02
Johannesburg - Bafana Bafana midfielder Steven Pienaar insists he has no regrets about leaving Everton for Premier League rivals Tottenham.
Pienaar initially joined the Toffees on loan from Borussia
Dortmund before signing a permanent deal at Goodison Park in 2008, where
he went on to enjoy a fruitful three-year spell under manager David
Moyes.
However, the former Ajax Cape Town winger made the move to London
giants Spurs at the beginning of 2011, but a string of injuries have
seen the 29-year-old restricted to just 12 appearances.
But Pienaar, who watched South Africa crash to a 2-1 defeat to
neighbours Zimbabwe on Tuesday, insists he is confident he made the
right decision in joining Harry Redknapp's men.
"Regrets? No, not at all. Not at all," he told The Independent. "It has been a year of mixed feelings and, yes, it has been a bumpy road, but hopefully I can make it a success.
"It was a very hard decision to make. It was hard to leave
Everton as a club, and Liverpool as a city. The people I had around me,
the players, most of the supporters were very good to me, and I will
always be grateful to them.
"It was so hard to go, but in life you have to make decisions. I
made this one as a footballer and as a human being, and I don't have any
regrets about what I chose to do. Not at all."
Pienaar is no stranger to adversity in the game, and the playmaker believes he will once again rise to the challenge.
"I had a tough time at Ajax (Amsterdam)," he added. "When I
damaged my nerve, they said I'd never play again. I came back strong. I
had a difficult spell at Dortmund, and I came back strong.
"Things like that help you appreciate the things that you do have.
"Being a footballer is only a short career. Having been through
all of that helps me appreciate the time I am on the field. It drives
you to fight for your place. I want to be part of this team, and I want
to show I did not come here by mistake. I have come back twice already,
and I will come back again."