Bafana start their qualification route to the next World Cup with a home tie against Benin at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Saturday, before travelling to Rwanda next Tuesday.

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The other three teams in the group are Nigeria, Zimbabwe, and Lesotho, from which only the group winners are guaranteed qualification, and Tau says support from the nation will be crucial.

"We want everyone to also believe in us. I think we believe so much in ourselves, and we also want South Africa to show that they believe in us," said Tau.

"I mean, it does happen that we lose games or we draw games, but we still need the support to be there because it shouldn't only come when we win or go to AFCON, or to the World Cup, it should always be with us.

"And we'll make sure that we do our best in the World Cup qualifiers, to make sure that South Africans are happy."

Bafana is arguably one of the most criticised national teams in the country, which, at times, affects the younger players looking to carry Bafana forward, but Tau has shared how he avoids this affecting his own performance.

"It's hard, mentally, to take in everything that people say, and the goals you set for yourself as an individual – sometimes you achieve them, sometimes you don't, but people tend to forget that you are also a human-being with feelings and emotions, and stuff do get to you," he added.

"But, at the same time, we always try to put on a tough face and go through the moments. What I do is always try and get closer to my family.

"Sometimes you can't control opinions and you just look at what you can control, and try and live off that. Some situations are not really there to affect you, people tend to be negative.

"But it's not because of your doing, so you try and look at whether it's really about me or aare they just trying to be negative about the situation. But mentally it's hard."

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