Bafana Bafana stiker, Percy Tau, ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Ghana and South Africa. Photo: Thabang Lepule/BackpagePix
ICYMI: Bafana coach Broos laments continued Percy Tau injury issues
Bafana coach Hugo Broos has said the injuries preventing Percy Tau from fulfilling his national duties have increasingly ‘become a problem’.
Bafana Bafana stiker, Percy Tau, ahead of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Ghana and South Africa. Photo: Thabang Lepule/BackpagePix
Earlier this month Hugo Broos showed his hand when he unveiled the final Bafana squad to face France and Guinea in friendly internationals to be played in Europe later this month.
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Although there was some talk that Percy Tau might not be released to Bafana for these friendlies, he was included in the original squad. However, in the latest news, Broos has confirmed that the playmaker will not be involved in the matches against Guinea in Belgium on 25 March, and France in Lille on 29 March.
“Percy will not be there, he’s again injured,” he said on Monday, as quoted by iDiski Times.
“It becomes a problem with Percy. Since I’m here in September, he’s had the problems, he wasn’t ready for the two matches we played.
“He was injured, he went injured back to Al Ahly and he was not there for the two games against Ethiopia because he was injured. For the last games against Ghana and Zimbabwe he was not 100% and he returned with injury and now again he’s injured.”
Broos looked clearly frustrated as he highlighted how they would once again have to make-do without the services of the key player.
“It’s a problem. Percy is already eight months with injury now,” Broos continued. “It is not a surprise. In June after he made the transfer to Al Ahly [from Brighton], he did not train so much. He did not play so much
“And then he played two tough games, Zimbabwe and Ghana. Injury! Then he started with Ahly. He played. Injury!
“So I think for Percy, it would be good that he would train for six months and no play. His physical basic is not good. I think every time he plays, he is overloaded. And then you get injuries.”
Previously, Broos had admitted that the form and performances of the 27-year-old were already of some concern.
“This is not the Percy Tau we are used to seeing,” said Broos, according to The Citizen.
“When he had the injury and didn’t play for Ahly for a few weeks before Christmas I thought it was that. But I saw him playing on Saturday, and this was not Percy Tau. I don’t know what is happening, I will talk to him. He can help us a lot with his talent but we need the best Percy Tau.”
Tau previously enjoyed great success at Sundowns before enjoying spells in Belgium, with Union St Gilloise, Club Brugge and Anderlecht. He joined up with Pitso Mosimane at Al Ahly in 2021, but has only performed well in fits and bursts.
“I could understand that he (Tau) is not the type of player for England but in Egypt he has to be a standout player. But he has problems,” added Broos.
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Meanwhile, Broos also explained that he wanted to add Thapelo Morena to his squad, but he appeared in camp with an injury on Sunday.
“Yesterday, Morena came in camp with an injury, so he’s out too,” he explained.
“[Victor] Letsoalo is in. We called him on Saturday after we knew that Percy was not going to make it.
“I’m happy with the selection I have. After the evaluation that we made after the qualifiers for the World Cup, we needed a little bit more quality in our group, we needed a bit more power.”
Bafana Bafana face Guinea in Belgium on 25 March, and France in Lille on 29 March. The team will assemble a day before departure and then travel to Paris on Monday, 21 March.
The original Bafana squad can be seen below:
| NAME AND SURNAME | POSITION | CLUB | COUNTRY |
| 1.Ronwen WILLIAMS | GK | SuperSport United | South Africa |
| 2. Veli MOTHWA | GK | AmaZulu FC | South Africa |
| 3. Bruce BVAMU | GK | Kaizer Chiefs FC | South Africa |
| 4. Sydeny MOBBIE | DF | Sekhukhune United | South Africa |
| 5. Khuliso MUDAU | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 6. Terrence MASHEGO | DF | Cape Town City FC | South Africa |
| 7. Lyle LAKAY | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 8. Rushine DE REUCK | DF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 9. Siyanda XULU | DF | Unattached | South Africa |
| 10. Athenkosi MCABA | DF | Stellenbosch FC | South Africa |
| 11. Nkosinathi SIBISI | DF | Golden Arrows FC | South Africa |
| 12. Bandile SHANDU | DF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 13. Mothobi MVALA | MF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 14. Teboho MOKOENA | MF | Mamelodi Sundowns FC | South Africa |
| 15. Goodman MOSELE | MF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 16. Thabang MONARE | MF | Orlando Pirates FC | South Africa |
| 17. Ethan BROOKS | MF | TS Galaxy FC | South Africa |
| 18. Keagan DOLLY | MF | Kaizer Chiefs FC | South Africa |
| 19. Lyle FOSTER | FW | Westerlo FC | Belgium |
| 20. Bongokuhle HLONGWANE | FW | Minnesota United FC | USA |
| 21. Evidence MAKGOPA | FW | Baroka FC | South Africa |
| 22. Fagrie LAKAY | FW | Pyramid FC | Egypt |
| 23. Percy TAU *Withdrawn *Victor Letsoalo added |
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