Steven Pienaar’s Zlatan scrapes
The South African playmaker saw all sorts in five years at Ajax, before heading to the Premier League via Germany
Your nickname is ‘ Schillo’. Why?
It was after the 1990 World Cup – Salvatore Schillaci played very well [ winning the Golden Boot] and I always told my friends I wanted to be like him. So when I began to make it as a footballer, that’s what most people started calling me: ‘ Schillo’.
You played with Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Ajax – what was that like?
Zlatan was a huge character in the dressing room, and he was a really nice guy. We both arrived at Ajax at the same time: we quickly became good friends and were neighbours. We also shared a room whenever we were at training camps, and Zlatan always wanted to control the TV remote! Sometimes I wanted to watch a movie, but he wanted to play on his Playstation. I was never a Playstation guy – he’d be like, “Dude, want to play?” I’d say, “Man, I just want to watch television”, but he wouldn’t have it! [ Laughs]
Did Zlatan always tell everyone he was the best, even at 19?
Of course he did! He always wanted to be the best. Some people think it’s an act, but that’s just the way Zlatan is. He always talked about Malmo and how he’d wanted to become the best player that had ever come from there. It was very clear where he was going. What he did on the pitch was unbelievable, and it was good to have him as a team- mate – he was big and I was small, so he could stand up for me if I ever got bullied!
We understand you have a story involving a burning bus...
Once, we played Groningen away and drove there by bus the night before the game. The bus was parked underneath our window at the hotel, then at 1am the Ajax team doctor started knocking on our door. I said, “What the f** k, it’s 1am?” The doctor was wearing his underwear and said, “Don’t panic, but the bus has caught fire, so get your stuff and get out of the room.” I ran to get my things, but instead of doing the same, Zlatan ran up to the door and stopped me running out of the room. He said, “You’re not leaving until you go and get my bag as well!” [ Laughs] Luckily it was all OK, and we won the game.
Were you there when Mido threw a pair of scissors at Zlatan?
That was just two guys who were so driven to win, and were having a go at each other because things hadn’t worked out that day. It was a minor disagreement that escalated – Mido was saying, “You should have passed
the ball to me”, Zlatan said something back, Mido got annoyed, and the next thing he saw was a pair of scissors, so he picked them up and threw them at Zlatan. I always sat with Zlatan in the dressing room, and I got scared. I yelled, “Dude, you nearly took my eye out!” But after that, everyone calmed down.
How crazy was Mido?
Oh yeah, Mido was crazy. One time he bought some expensive jeans, costing maybe € 400. The players would usually bring things in for the team to sign, for their friends and family. Mido was out training, and one of the players thought the jeans were there to be signed. So he wrote on them, then we all did. Man, Mido was mad – we ran out of the dressing room!
You joined Borussia Dortmund from Ajax. Why did you only play there for a season?
The first six months were difficult – moving from the Eredivisie to a big Bundesliga club, with a new environment and different way of playing. I felt homesick, missing Amsterdam where all my siblings lived. I grew stronger in the second part of the season and started to play well, but then a new manager came in and wanted some new signings. He said he wanted to keep me, but that the guys above him wanted to loan me out. Then I got lucky because one of the clubs who wanted me on loan was Everton. Once I knew that I could go to Everton, my mind was made up. It was my dream to play in the Premier League, so it was goodbye Dortmund. It just made sense.
What was David Moyes like to play under?
He was the one who gave me the chance to join Everton, and we had a good relationship. He said he’d seen me play in only one game and decided he wanted me. Some managers used to say, “You’re too small to play in the Premier League,” but Moyes saw something in me. When I got to Everton he was a good motivator, which was important for me. He’s a very honest man, too.
What did you think of Mikel Arteta?
Mikel was amazing. At training, in games and even in the dressing room, he would always be coaching his team- mates. Mikel was the one that Moyes made contact with first if he wanted something passed on – a change of formation or something tactical. I think he’ll do really well as a manager if he’s given time.
Spurs and Chelsea both wanted to sign you in 2011. Why did you join Spurs and do you regret it, given you played only 18 games?
I have family members in South Africa who support Spurs, and they were the first club to approach me. I spoke to the manager, Harry Redknapp, and gave him my word – I’m the kind of guy who takes his word very seriously. Chelsea came in at the last minute, but the deal with Spurs was almost done. They had an exciting team, with a manager who gave confidence to young players. I don’t regret it, and if I could pick again I’d still go for Spurs.