Toffees blast SA proposal March 19 2008
Everton have not taken kindly to a proposal from South Africa's sports minister which could prevent the country's best players from turning out for their clubs for two years ahead of the 2010 World Cup.
SA chief Makhenkesi Stofile wants Bafana Bafana's top 50 players tied down to the government in order to be fully prepared for the showpiece event in two years' time.
The Toffees stand to lose the services of midfielder Steven Pienaar if the plan goes ahead, with Stofile determined for South Africa to give a good account of themselves as the tournament's hosts.
"We'll contract the players and tell the coach 'here, work with them'," said Stofile. "They won't play for their clubs for two years and will be preparing only for the World Cup soccer tournament.
"We have to prevent them from embarrassing us."
But Everton chief executive Keith Wyness has slammed South Africa's authorities, claiming the proposal will never work.
"While we sympathise with the sentiment behind the idea, it is entirely unworkable and shows a complete lack of understanding for how the football world works," Wyness said in the Daily Express.