SAfrica recall Pienaar to face Norway and Portugal

Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar was recalled on Thursday by 2010 World Cup hosts South Africa for friendlies against Norway and Portugal.

Pienaar, the sole South African holding a regular starting place in the English Premier League, missed a 2-0 home loss to Chile last month owing to injury.

Captain and defender Aaron Mokoena and striker Benni McCarthy are on the books of Blackburn Rovers but neither is first-choice and the former recently told the South African media he wants a close-season transfer.

South Africa host Norway at Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace in the north-west mining town of Rustenburg on March 28 and face Portugal in the Swiss city of Lausanne three days later.

Bafana Bafana (The Boys) are using the friendlies to prepare for the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, which they host at four venues – including Rustenburg – between June 14 and 28.

The Norway fixture will mark the official opening of the renovated 45,000-seat Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, with the winners receiving the Nelson Mandela Challenge trophy.

South Africa are using the Confederations Cup as a dress rehearsal for the World Cup a year later, the first time the quadrennial tournament will take place in Africa.

Brazil-born national coach Joel Santana told a media conference in the South African economic capital that choosing the 23-man squad was his most difficult task since succeeding compatriot Carlos Alberto Parreira last year.

“So many footballers are improving and pushing for a place. This squad includes 80 percent of the players who will play at the Confederations Cup,” he said.

Belgium-based midfielder Elrio van Heerden was not considered due to injury and defender Nasief Morris from Spanish club Recreativo Huelva faces a fitness test when the squad assembles on Monday.

Officials said South Africa will play friendlies in Germany (September 5), the Republic of Ireland (September 8), Norway (October 10) and Iceland (October 14) this year.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld/GER), Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Calvin Marlin (Mamelodi Sundowns)

Defenders: Matthew Booth, Siboniso Gaxa (both Sundowns), Morgan Gould (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa/ISR), Masilo Modubi (Westerlo/BEL), Aaron Mokoena (Blackburn Rovers/ENG, capt), Bryce Moon (Panathinaikos/GRE), Nasief Morris (Recreativo Huelva/ESP), Lucas Thwala (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Lance Davids (SuperSport), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Golden Arrows), Teko Modise (Pirates), Surprise Moriri (Sundowns), Siyabonga Nkosi (Maccabi Netanya/ISR), Steven Pienaar (Everton/ENG), Macbeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan/RUS), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Chiefs)

Strikers: Benni McCarthy (Blackburn/ENG), Mabhuti Khenyeza (Ajax Cape Town), Bernard Parkr (Red Star/SRB)