‘Not Tau we want to see but…’ – Broos hints Percy is at Bafana Bafana to stay

Bafana Bafana tactician Hugo Broos is adamant Qatar SC attacker Percy Tau is delivering for the national team, though he has not yet hit his top gear.

The Lion of Judah was reinstated to the national team in the just-concluded international break and featured as South Africa beat both Lesotho and Benin by an identical 2-0 scoreline. The result ensured Bafana Bafana lead Group C of the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers with 13 points, five more than Benin and Rwanda. 

Nigeria have managed just seven points from the six matches played, meaning their chances to top the pool are slim.

Tau struggled to make an impression on both games, missing some good chances. His display split the opinion of the fans in Mzansi; some felt his days are over, while others still believe the former Al Ahly player has what it takes to help the national team deliver.

Broos keeps faith in Tau’s ability and worth

Despite some critics arguing that Tau shouldn’t be considered in future assignments, Broos has explained why he will still consider him.

“You know, for us, what we wanted to do is have Percy play between the lines. He’s a good player who knows how to give an assist. But Benin, naturally, had someone shadow him, so it was difficult for us, but I’m happy with his performance,” the 72-year-old stated.

“Percy worked a lot for the team, he might not have done what we asked of him, but when you have a player that works like that and wants to do what we expect, the manger can’t be dissatisfied.

“Again, it is not necessarily the Percy Tau that we want to see, but on the other hand, he worked hard for the team, and that is also important,” Broos concluded. 

Tau has scored just two goals in the last 11 matches and 23 in the 50 outings for the national team since making his Bafana Bafana debut in 2015.