Guns, gangs and great talent

Whether or not true, these tales — including the heart-wrenching experience of witnessing his best friend’s violent death — encapsulate the Everton star’s adolescence in the gang-ridden, druginfested township of Westbury, in Johannesburg.

“What can I say about Westbury?” Pienaar mused in a recent interview with the London Daily Mail. “There were some rough areas in and around Joburg, but Westbury had to be one of the roughest. It’s hard to describe just how bad it was — gang violence, drug dealing and shootings were everywhere.

“One thing that sticks in my mind is watching TV sitting on the floor. We had a couch, but I wasn’t allowed on it, because you never knew when a bullet was going to come flying through the window. If you were on the floor, you were below the level of glass — and safe.

“When I was eight or nine, you saw violence and drug dealing at close quarters every day. It was part of your life, and no one dared to try to do anything about it.”

Today, Westbury has mellowed and the suburb’s children no longer have to dodge gangsters to watch their favourite sports.

At weekends, whether in a shebeen or on the couch in front of TV, young and old vie for the best position from which to watch “Schillo” score against Manchester United, or “Stevie P” bamboozle Chelsea and Arsenal defenders.

Pienaar, 28, has grown from the callow 20-year-old who went to play in the Netherlands to become one of the best footballers in the world.

Even Kaka acknowledged as much last year after Brazil beat Bafana. Kaka broke off an interview after the Confederations Cup semifinal at Ellis Park to congratulate Pienaar on a fine game.

Once Pienaar’s talent was identified, he was signed by Ajax Cape Town at age 17. He had memorable turnouts for the club, e specially against Pirates and Chiefs during the Rothmans Cup. Three years later, Ajax Amsterdam signed him and he made his international debut in Bafana’s 2-0 win over Turkey.

He has since earned 46 caps and scored two goals. He was also in the team at the 2002 World Cup.

After five years in Holland, he joined Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.

He moved to Everton in 2007, first on loan. His exploits for the Toffees have made him a much soughtafter talent. There has been speculation about moves to Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea when his contract expires at the end of this season. Sums of £10-million to £15-million have been mentioned.

Pienaar has not forgotten his roots. He told the Daily Mail: “There’s still poverty and crime.” Of security for theWorld Cup, he said: “I don’t think there will be real trouble. The world is coming to South Africa and there’s a cry throughout the continent for guns to be put down. For a few weeks, people will forget problems and civil wars and have a smile on their face. Sport can be that powerful.”

Pienaar’s family have moved out of Westbury to a “lovely, big house in the suburbs”. Pienaar always pays tribute to the role of his mother, Denise, in his rise to fame.

In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he dismissed reports that his mother objected to him playing soccer. “She didn’t like me to play on streets because she was scared I’d get on to the bad stuff. Now she can see that sneaking out was maybe not such a bad thing.”

• This weekend Sunday Times profiles Siyabonga Sangweni