Bafana Bafana star Percy Tau has expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for recent South African national team matches.
South Africa coach Hugo Broos first excluded Tau from his squad in March, citing the player's criticism for poor performances at the previous AFCON tournament in Ivory Coast.
This was when they faced Algeria and Andorra in the FIFA international friendlies.
Broos has again snubbed Tau for the upcoming 2025 AFCON qualifiers against Uganda and South Sudan.
The Belgian tactician believes Tau is mentally affected by rumors surrounding his exit from Al Ahly due to a fallout with a coach.
However, Tau insists he is well and ready to represent his country, expressing his displeasure at the omission.
PERCY TAU ON HUGO BROOS – ‘I RESPECT HIM BUT…’
“I don’t believe that,” said Tau.
“I don’t agree to that. I mean I’ve also said it to him, ‘Coach, I appreciate your reason [for] not selecting me’. And I don’t want to say the reasons behind it because you cannot look from the outside and tell me I’m not fine, when I tell you coach I’m fine.
“These are just rumours. How can they affect? I’ve said it, these are just rumours and then I’m used to it.
“This is not the first time actually it happened with me. I’ve always had it with [Al] Ahly.
“It’s either from injuries to… One time I was in South Africa and I was told, ‘Ahly and Percy parted ways’, I’m like, ‘Where does this come from?’
“So, I’ve always had these rumours with me. I don’t know what’s the intention though. And then to make a decision [being snubbed] based on the rumours, it did not sit well with me.
“And I expressed that with the coach. He respects me. I respect him. We’ve got a good relationship as one of his senior players.
“But then, I’ve said it to him. I just don’t agree with the reasoning behind it.
“If you drop me, and say you’ll come the next game based on your performances, I’ll take that any day because I always want to fight for my country.”
Tau says he is accustomed to rumors suggesting his departure from Al Ahly.
He believes Broos will reconsider his decision and bring him back to the squad for the upcoming AFCON qualifiers in October.
WHAT TAU IS HOPING FOR
“Yeah it did,” he added.
“And the reasoning worse. Because I was like, ‘I’m fine mentally. It can’t be because of the report that I get’. No, the report that I get is normal for me, I’m used to this – are not true.
“But anyway Mdala [old man] also has got his own mind and how he believes the things, and then at the end of the day, he’s the coach and I respect him.
“He’s leading my country and I know the boys will make us proud. And I’ll be back in the squad soon.”
