For Steven Pienaar, deciding which large European club to sign for after his tenure at Goodison Park was only a miniscule challenge compared with those he faced growing up, such as living to see the next day. Pienaar recalls having to sit on the floor while watching television in his Westbury home, one of the most dangerous Townships during Apartheid, out of fear that if he, or one of his three silblings, were to sit on the couch level with the window, they might get hit by a stray bullet.

Growing up in a dangerous township such as Westbury has given Pienaar a constant sense of gratitude and humbleness in his everyday life, as well as on the pitch. Pienaar is a devout Christian, and is not afraid to show it by always wearing a shirt bearing “God is Great” underneath his jersey during matches. This down-to-earth foundation has contributed to his selfless style of play as a hard-working provider with inimitable vision. This has been constantly shown during his time at Everton through his space-creating turns in the midfield, as well as his cunning passes strung between himself and his former left-flank companion, Leighton Baines.

It comes with no surprise then that Pienaar has been a complete professional during his failed contract negotiations with Everton and his move to Tottenham. Never once misleading his fans or the media by dedicating his future to Everton, and honestly stating that he wasn’t sure what his future had in store for him. It is refreshing, during an age where a footballer’s contract means less and less as more money enters the upper echelons of football (as Kenny recently put it, contracts now are simply autographs), that Pienaar saw out the majority of his three-year contract with Everton. With much of the decision to cut the remainder of his contract coming from a club desperate for money, otherwise Pienaar would have walked on a free during the summer transfer window.

So what will Harry Redknapp get out of his newly acquired South African? Goals certainly haven’t been Pienaar’s forte throughout his career, although he has scored some important goals during his tenure at Everton. Perhaps most notably his relentless run across half of the Emirates pitch leaving any pursuing Arsenal players in the dust without looking back, and chipping a helpless Almunia, as shown here. Pienaar later called that goal the best of his career thus far, and it also highlighted his best attribute as a footballer and the reason Spurs, and many other clubs, were attracted to him, his incredible work rate. This is something Everton’s American keeper, Tim Howard, simply described as the “Engine” of the Everton squad.

His professionalism will undoubtedly remain unchanged, although his family ties may take a hit. His brother, Kelvin, an ardent Arsenal supporter, did not speak to Steven for a long period of time following Steven’s blistering solo effort against his club. Kelvin will certainly not be welcoming the idea of his brother now playing for his club’s heated North-London rivals. Regardless of his brother’s allegiance to the rivals of his new club, Steven will not let this or any other distractions get in the way of trying to break into the talented Tottenham squad. He is guided and inspired by a god who has always led him throughout his life, and is the motivation behind this skillful midfield engine. Pienaar will be just that, motivated, as he always has been.