Despite being disgruntled, Percy Tau is fully aware of the reasons why he has been snubbed by Hugo Broos ahead of Bafana Bafana's 2025 Africa Cup Nations opening matches.
South Africa host The Cranes of Uganda on Friday at the Orlando Stadium and will take on South Sudan on Tuesday, September 10. Tau – Bafana’s talisman at some point – will not be involved in either of the clashes.
Broos’ front line consists of Lyle Foster, Iqraam Rayners, Elias Mokwana, Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis. Tau normally dons the coveted No.10 jersey at Bafana, but will now have to find himself a seat in the stands as he is currently in the country enjoying off-season.
“The player knows why he is not with us. I told him, and he does not agree, and that’s another thing and it is a good thing because that means he wants to play for Bafana Bafana. He has to understand because I know the criticism that he gets after a Bafana game. Don’t tell me it does not affect him.
“I don’t think for those important and intensive games that Percy will be mentally ready for that – he knows that. I don’t have a problem that a player is not agreeing with what I am telling him and that is a very good mentality, showing that ‘I want to be with Bafana’, and he will be with Bafana when things are clear.
"His situation at Al Ahly is not clear. He did not play much."
Early this year, Broos led Bafana to a third place finish in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but Tau did not have the best of tournaments.
Tau’s underwhelming performance saw him at the end of an influx of criticism from South Africans to the point that Broos did not call him up in friendlies against Algeria and Andorra in March. Broos’ rationale behind Tau’s exclusion was to shield him from “unnecessary pressure”.
However, this time around, Tau has been out of action for The Red Devils, having played just two minutes in the last 18 matches for Al Ahly.
Tau appears to have fallen out of favour with Ahly mentor Marcel Koller, which leaves the spanner in the works for his agent, given that the 30-year-old’s current deal expires in June 2025.
“I have experience and I have been criticised as a player and as a coach. His situation atAl Ahly is not clear. He did not play [much], it means there is a problem with the coach and the club. I know it, and it is not because I read it in the papers,” Broos said.
Meanwhile, Bafana’s match against Uganda will kick off at 18:00.
Bafana Bafana training at Dobsonville Stadium today ahead of the AFCON qualifier against Uganda at Orlando Stadium on Friday, 6 September. pic.twitter.com/yeuAYZpLwH
— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) September 2, 2024
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