Bafana Bafana Percy Tau

Percy Tau of Bafana Bafana. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images.

Big blow for Bafana as Percy Tau ruled out with injury, Letsoalo called up

Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos has confirmed that Al Ahly star Percy Tau has been withdrawn from the squad due to injury.

Bafana Bafana Percy Tau

Percy Tau of Bafana Bafana. Photo: Lefty Shivambu/Gallo Images.

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.”

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 SURNAMEPOSITIONCLUBCOUNTRY
1.Ronwen WILLIAMSGKSuperSport UnitedSouth Africa
2. Veli MOTHWA GKAmaZulu FCSouth Africa
3. Bruce BVAMUGKKaizer Chiefs FCSouth Africa
4. Sydeny MOBBIEDFSekhukhune UnitedSouth Africa
5. Khuliso MUDAUDFMamelodi Sundowns FCSouth Africa
6. Terrence MASHEGODFCape Town City FCSouth Africa
7. Lyle LAKAYDFMamelodi Sundowns FCSouth Africa
8. Rushine DE REUCKDFMamelodi Sundowns FCSouth Africa
9. Siyanda XULUDFUnattached South Africa
10. Athenkosi MCABADFStellenbosch FCSouth Africa
11. Nkosinathi SIBISIDFGolden Arrows FCSouth Africa
12. Bandile SHANDU DFOrlando Pirates FC South Africa
13. Mothobi MVALA MFMamelodi Sundowns FCSouth Africa
14. Teboho MOKOENAMFMamelodi Sundowns FCSouth Africa
15. Goodman MOSELE  MFOrlando Pirates FCSouth Africa
16.  Thabang MONARE   MFOrlando Pirates FCSouth Africa
17. Ethan BROOKSMFTS Galaxy FCSouth Africa
18. Keagan DOLLYMFKaizer Chiefs FCSouth Africa
19. Lyle FOSTER FWWesterlo FCBelgium
20. Bongokuhle HLONGWANEFWMinnesota United FCUSA
21. Evidence MAKGOPAFWBaroka FCSouth Africa
22. Fagrie LAKAYFWPyramid FCEgypt
23. Percy TAU *Withdrawn
*Victor Letsoalo added

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