Pienaar is keen to outdo Benni

Bafana legends kick off late rivalry

Veteran Wits midfielder Steven Pienaar has set his sights on surpassing the success his “big brother” Benni McCarthy had at Orlando Pirates.

Though the pair debuted in the MTN8 quarterfinals at the weekend, they will mark first appearances for their respective teams in different capacities in the Absa Premiership on Friday night (8pm).

The Cape Town City side coached by McCarthy will visit Pienaar’s Wits at Bidvest Stadium in the league’s opening fixture.

Pienaar has his work cut out if he hopes to emulate McCarthy’s medal count, which includes the league, MTN8 and Telkom Knockout titles (all won in the 2011/12 season).

The pair’s careers have not been dissimilar, having both left the country for Ajax Amsterdam in their early 20s, with Pienaar joining in 2001 and McCarthy years prior in 1997.

Both players also had spells in the English Premiership.

They will likely be opponents on no less than four occasions this season as they will also clash in an MTN8 semifinal (two legs) and the second half of the season.

“I am looking forward to it. Obviously as a big brother I have to get one over him,” Pienaar said.

“He came back and did very well and won all the cups on show. For me that’s the bar I want to reach but it’s not going to be easy.”