体坛英语新闻：South Africa's captain Pienaar fit for Africa Nations Cup

JOHANNESBURG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Bafana Bafana will be relieved that captain Steven Pienaar was deemed fit to lead the team to their Group G 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in Cairo on Saturday night.

The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been troubled by groin and thigh injuries that will require strengthening exercises on his core trunk muscles when he returns to the country next week. According to the national team's doctor Ephraim Nematswerani, Pienaar's troublesome injuries have "recovered to almost healing" for the crucial match and if next week's prescribed program is not a success, Pienaar will be forced to have an operation.

"Steven arrived yesterday and we're convinced that he was okay after thorough medical inspection," said Nematswerani on Monday.

"He has been receiving treatment and happy that he has responded well, and if next week's planned programme is not a success, then he will need to have surgery," Pienaar did concede the exercises he is doing to alleviate the injury are troubling him.

"Yes, the injuries have been giving me some problems over last three months. I have decided to put the exercise problem aside until after the Egypt game," the 28-year-old said.

With forward Thulani Serero having been ruled out last week with a hamstring injury, further good tidings ahead of the clash were on fullbacks Tsepo Masilela and Anele Ngcongca as well as goalkeeper Wayne Sandilands who have been deemed fit from their niggles.