Pienaar coup for Hunt

WHEN Steven Pienaar indicated about a month ago that he was available to wind down his career at home, coach Gavin Hunt was the first to pounce on the former Sunderland midfielder, the Bidvest Wits coach said yesterday.

The newly-crowned Absa Premiership champions announced yesterday that they have added the ertswhile Bafana Bafana playmaker to their arsenal, an acquisition that sent a clear message that the Clever Boys were eager to compete fiercely next season.

“We spoke a long time ago when the opportunity arose and he obviously wanted to join the club that has just won the league,” said Hunt, who could not immediately reveal the length of Pienaar’s contract.

The coup by Wits ended speculation that the former Ajax Amsterdanm and Borussia Dortmund star would join Cape Town City or Orlando Pirates.

Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza last year attempted to sign the former Bafana Bafana skipper, but he opted to remain abroad instead.

Pienaar, 35, was available on a free deal after his spell at Sunderland ended with relegation from the English Premier League at the end of the just-concluded season.

But Hunt believes that the schemer, with 62 Bafana caps, brings in a competitive edge in the Wits midfield that just last week was bolstered by another overseas returnee, Daylon Claasen, 27.

“No one is guaranteed a spot in the team, there will be a fight for positions in the team. We have a very small squad; that’s why we are reinforcing,” said the coach

The Clever Boys are into their second week of pre-season training and Hunt said “Schillo” will join his new teammates next week.