Pienaar taking the Mandela message to top of the game

STEVEN PIENAAR was an awestruck 15-year-old when he first met Nelson Mandela, the South African president wanting to congratulate his junior team for their displays at a tournament in Italy.

‘The first thing he said to us was “Gentlemen” – I still remember his voice – “You have the opportunity to do something in your life’’,’ recalls Everton’s South Africa midfielder.

‘He said sport is the one thing that can bring smiles to people’s faces, in good times and bad. But to be something special you had to keep working hard. I’ve made sure those words have always stuck in my head.’

Sixteen years later, Pienaar is an example of Mandela’s dream that South Africans would perform on the world stage after years of isolation.

Thanks to Mandela’s diplomacy, Pienaar – born into apartheid – has been able to enjoy a lucrative career with Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Tottenham, besides captaining South Africa at the 2010 World Cup finals in his home country.

He is now shining in a second spell at Everton, spearheading an unlikely challenge for the Champions League places under Roberto Martinez. They go to Martinez’s former club, Swansea, today having lost only one league game this season.

Mandela’s death this month hit Pienaar hard, and he has resolved to continue making his countrymen proud on the pitch.

Martinez also believes sport has the power to make people happy – including players.

‘The manager is a very positive guy, he always wants us to play with a smile on our faces,’ said Pienaar. ‘He was a bit annoyed after we beat Fulham 4-1 last weekend, because some of us seemed disappointed.

‘He doesn’t want us to play with inhibition. His team talks are, “Get over your fear, play with a smile no matter what happens”. It relaxes us.’

The positivity has helped Pienaar come to terms with the loss of the man South Africa refer affectionately to as Madiba.

‘It’s been very sad for the whole of South Africa to lose a father figure. I’ve met him a few times, also with my little girl, so that emotion comes when you watch the news and people keep talking about it.

‘If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be sitting here today, able to play as a South African in England. I am really grateful for that. He loved his nation and he loved sport.’

Pienaar and Everton were at the crossroads in the summer when manager David Moyes left for Manchester United.

Bringing in a free-spirited replacement like Martinez seemed a gamble to those who pointed out the Spaniard had led Wigan to relegation last season besides winning the FA Cup.

So far, the decision looks a masterstroke. Martinez has thrived with better players and added quality loan signings – Romelu Lukaku, Gareth Barry and Gerard Deulofeu.

‘The boss wants us to go out and dominate games,’ said Pienaar. ‘It takes a lot of courage to do it. To keep the ball is not just about passing, it’s about moving as well, so you have to be fit and he likes us to rest between games to recover.

‘We build patiently from the back and I think the supporters were a bit apprehensive when we drew the first three games.

‘For a few players it was a shock too but we had to get used to it as quickly as possible. The manager has trusted us, we worked on a style in training and have taken it on to the pitch.

‘Our philosophy is if we keep the ball, the other team are working harder to win it back.’

It is ironic Pienaar, 31, could end up playing Champions League football for Everton when he left the club in 2011 to fulfil that ambition at Spurs.

He lasted only 12 months at White Hart Lane before returning to Merseyside, aware he’d be an easy target for those who thought he’d considered Tottenham a bigger club.

‘Sometimes when you leave a club it’s not easy to go back. The way I left as well, I know some people didn’t like it,’ he admits.

‘It was hard walking back into the dressing room, I had all sorts of things coming at me. Not objects, just a lot of stick.

‘Liverpool makes you feel alive. People are excited to talk to you in the street, they make you feel wanted.

‘I enjoyed Tottenham’s style of playing but the mentality is different’ England full back Leighton Baines may return to the Everton side at Swansea after a foot injury to resume his devastating partnership with Pienaar down the left. ‘The way Swansea play was started by our manager,’ said Pienaar. ‘It will be interesting to see how we go out and play.’ Steven Pienaar was speaking at an event to thank Everton in the Community volunteers for contributing to the

charity’s work in 2013.