Injury-free Percy Tau ready to lead Bafana Bafana into new era

Fresh from winning the CAF Champions League with Al Ahly last weekend, Tau faced the media ahead of South Africa hosting Morocco in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday that’s all about bragging rights for the two sides. 

Tau explained why he is finally enjoying a purple patch. 

"No, look, it's simple – I'm injury-free. I have suffered a lot in the [past] few months, where I come in and go out again, I couldn't get momentum," explained Tau.

"Now that I've been injury-free, I'm able to gain momentum and I think I'm getting used to the guys in Egypt, and what the coach demands of me. So, the biggest [factor] is that I'm not injured."

With Ahly fans demanding consistency and silverware from their players, Tau now has a winning mentality he wants to bring into the national team. 

"I think I've always wanted to win every game that I play, and I go to a club where you win one trophy, they say you must win the next trophy as well," he added.

"So, that's the mentality there – they always want to win every game, and when we don't get the results, we really feel it. The fans are not happy, the club is not happy.

"And I think it was just a good relationship between me and them, in terms of winning, because I also love to win. And they demand winning there, so I just want to keep on that."

The 29-year-old forward also credits his club coach Marcel Koller for his recent rejuvenation.

"When the coach came in, I was injured so we did not spend much time [working together], and when I started my rehab and being on the pitch, he started talking to me to find out who I was as a person," Tau explained.

"He wanted to know me as a person before the player, and when we got that out the way, he started telling me where he wants me – he started me as a striker, and a number-10 in some games.

"He then realised I'm able to play multiple positions in the team, and he chose that I would spend most of the time on the sides [wings], and I was okay with that."