Johannesburg - South African Football Association vice-president Mwelo Nonkonyana has hit out at Steven Pienaar's decision to quit Bafana Bafana ahead of AFCON 2013 before urging the player to reconsider his decision.
According to the football411.com website, the Everton midfielder decided to call time on his international career and focus his efforts on his club football, a move that has angered Nonkonyana who feels Pienaar would be nowhere if it wasn't for his involvement in the national set-up.
Coach Gordon Igesund had already accepted the play-maker's decision and after a meeting with Pienaar in England admitted he wasn't about to force him to change his mind.
Nonkonyana, who is also serving as the chairperson of the Nations Cup local organising committee said in an interview with the BBC: "Pienaar must not forget that he comes from the ghettos and it is SAFA who helped him to develop to become what he is now.
"He would not have made it to England without the right quota of caps that he got from playing for the national team. He must consider all aspects of his decision and he should be part of the Nations Cup. I hope he will reconsider. I hope he is listening to me now."
.............................................................................................................................................
Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.
Topic Author
