Tau responds to AFCON criticism

Bafana Bafana and Al Ahly attacker has explained why he is unhappy about being flipped from the latest national team squad ahead of crucial AFCON qualifiers.

Broos' troops are set for two testing encounters against Uganda and South Sudan in the 2025 AFCON Qualifiers.

Ahead of those matches, Broos has named his final 23-man squad which includes new faces like Kaizer Chiefs' Rushwin Dortley and Pirates duo of Thalente Mbatha and Sipho Chaine.

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There are also some key absences as well though with Sundowns' Ronwen Williams missing out due to an injury, in addition to Tau – who was part of the team that won a Bronze medal at the 2023 AFCON in January.

Asked about Tau's absence, Broos said he was he opted against selecting Tau in a bid to protect himself from the criticism he has suffered at the AFCON.

The Al Ahly star went into the continental competition as the reigning CAF Inter-club Player of the Year and had enjoyed a sensational season the Egyptian giants, however, struggled to assert himself in the tournament, including missing a penalty in against Mali.

The former Sundowns man suffered heavy criticism during the tournament, prompting Broos to not select him for friendlies against Andorra and Algeria, as well as the upcoming AFCON qualifiers.

Speaking on the SNAWA, Tau said opened up about his struggle at AFCON, citing an unfamiliar role.

"I know I will work hard to push the coach to select me and for me to play. So ya, I will come back and I'll play, the South Africans will be happy," Tau said.

"But sometimes they (South Africans) also have to understand that when I had to play left winger (at the AFCON), I wish they would understand that Percy is not a good left winger.

"They've seen it, at Sundowns I played (left winger) in a game against Platinum Stars and I never played that position again. I went to have a chat with coach Pitso, I said, 'Hey coach, that side on the left is a no-no, at least try me in another position.'

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"Even with the national team, the last time I played left wing, it was in the AFCON again Namibia.

"After that game, I sat down with coach Stuart [Baxter] and he said 'nope, this is not what I want from you so how about you go on the mother side or as a ten' and said i'd be happy with that. 

"At the AFCON, I felt we could do something special and if I needed to maybe play an uncomfortable position I played it. But I had support. Even the guys were asking me, 'Hey Percy what's happening?' and I told them that I'm struggling on that left side but we had no one else. 

"Mshishi (Themba Zwane) used to ask me a lot and I was like 'Shika, on the left my brother,' but I said guys if we can win this thing (AFCON) I will be happy and I will sacrifice myself. It's not always about me to shine. 

"But yea, left has never been my left position."