Bafana Bafana attacker Percy Tau made his debut in the Qatar Stars League on Thursday evening.
The 30-year-old had missed the initial Qatar SC game against Al Sadd – which the King won by a solitary goal, owing to sickness. However, he was fit enough to be included in the match against Al-Shamal at the Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium.
It was a match they needed to win to get out of the relegation zone and boost their chances of retaining the top-tier status.
Qatar SC off the danger zone
After Tau's caution in the 34th minute, the visitors were reduced to 10 players four minutes later following the sending off of goalkeeper Seck Babacar. Qatar SC capitalised on the numerical advantage, scoring in the stroke of halftime through Atta Jaber after a good pass from Ahmed Abdelkader.
Despite being a player less, the visitors managed to get an equalizer in the 82nd minute. The King conceded a penalty, handing Baghdad Bounedjah a chance to find the back of the net from 12 yards to make it 1-1.
However, the determined Qatar SC had a penalty of their own in the 10th minute of added time and Ahmed Abdelkader made it 2-1 to win it for his team. The win took Qatar SC to the eighth position with 16 points from 14 games.
What Tau's Qatar adventure mean to him
The next game for Tau and his teammates will be against Al Ahli at the Al Thumama Stadium on Friday, February 7.
After his struggles for game-time in Al Ahly, Tau has a chance to prove he still has what it takes to deliver for Mzansi football.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos will most definitely wish to have his assistant captain once the 2026 Fifa World Cup qualifiers resume. Most importantly, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco later in the year.
