JOHANNESBURG, May 30 -- Bafana Bafana will be relieved that captain Steven Pienaar was deemed fit to lead the team to their Group G 2017 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.

【体坛英语资讯：South Africas captain Pienaar fit for Africa Nations Cup】相关文章：

★ 体坛英语资讯：ZZ leads New Years Eve charge against Iraq

★ 体坛英语资讯：Diving queen Guo shines at 2008 National Diving Championships

★ 体坛英语资讯：Italy join Netherlands in last eight after beating France 2-0

★ 体坛英语资讯：Greece: Olympia ready to welcome Chinese delegation

★ 体坛英语资讯：Group rivals cannot meet again in final

★ 体坛英语资讯：China reaches final of Womens Asia Cup

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Kate Bosworth is the new face for Calvin Klein Jeans

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Nelson Mandela bans Naomi

★ 体坛英语资讯：Federer back on track, Roddick into semis

★ 体坛英语资讯：Hamilton wants to win title on track, not on appeal