Bafana Bafana midfielder Themba Zwane has received all the plaudits for the big win against Namibia but former Bafana striker Mark Williams hailed Percy Tau for having the nerve to take a penalty again after missing against Mali.
Tau was a villain in South Africa's 2-0 defeat against the Eagles after he insisted on taking the responsibility of the penalty early in the first stanza but fired his spot-kick over the crossbar.
The penalty miss haunted 'The Lion of Judah' after Mali produced a strong second-half performance and got the two goals that sinked Bafana.
READ | 'Themba is the man...' - delighted Broos heaps praise on talismanic Zwane
Hugo Broos' charges had another penalty awarded via a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) early in the game against the Brave Warriors and Tau once again had the courage to step up and broke the deadlock for Bafana.
Tau, having plied his trade overseas for the likes of Club Brugge and Brighton and Hove Albion and playing in big tournaments such as the FIFA Club World Cup with Al Ahly, Williams feels such experience makes the difference in the national team.
"Very important (scoring the penalty), we looked at the coach's pre-match and he said if we had scored that penalty (against Mali)…," Williams said on SABC Sport TV.
"Percy Tau, that's what (happens) when you get different players, when they are playing overseas and he comes to the national team, he has to show that experience.
"But also what I like about it is the character, the hunger to make sure and this is the problem, a lot of people were saying why did he take that penalty, I have to give him credit because a lot of players would not have taken that penalty. And he has taken it, well done to Percy for taking that penalty," he added.
Bafana had eight players from Mamelodi Sundowns in the line-up against Namibia, with the exception of Evidence Makgopa, Sphephelo Sithole and Tau.
South Africa will complete their Group E schedule against Tunisia on Wednesday evening.
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