Bafana Bafana international Percy Tau has finally opened up about his surprising move from Brighton & Hove Albion to Egyptian giants Al Ahly.
The 31-year-old left-footed attacker left the English Premier League side in 2021 to join the then Pitso Mosimane-led Red Devils, a transfer that caught many off guard.
Tau initially signed with Brighton in 2018 after impressing at Mamelodi Sundowns. However, he was unable to immediately join the Seagulls due to work permit issues.
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As a result, he was loaned out to several Belgian clubs, including Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge, and RSC Anderlecht, where he showcased his talent and potential.
In 2021, Tau finally returned to Brighton, but just eight months later, he made the unexpected decision to move back to the African continent, signing with Ahly, where he lifted many trophies and played a key role in their continental success.
The move drew significant criticism, with many arguing that Tau had taken a step back in his career. Now, however, the South African star has revealed the key reason behind his decision to leave Brighton and join Al Ahly.
"When you look at our position, we were fighting relegation, so the coach tried and keep the same squad, he was not going to change much and that's what I was faced with, even if you can do well at training, do well in those games that you come in, the next game he feels he has to play the same squad. So that was my situation," Tau said on Marawa Sports Worldwide.
"I mean, I would play well coming in, even assist, do well for the team defensively and offensive hoping that the next game I would play, and then he says no, Percy, you're on the bench and then you're on the bench hoping you will get in but then now we get a 1-0 and we want to close the shop and then I am that player we can close the shop.
"It was [frustrating] and then I tried many times speaking to the coach to say coach I need to play and as I said, we were fighting relegation, so he said to "but then [Leandro] Trossard is doing well" and I was like, yeah, he's doing well because he's getting so many opportunities, let me get some opportunities also and you can rate me.
"The following season I stayed I did not go for the Olympics, trying to impress the coach. I did well in the friendlies, the last friendly match before the Premier League, the guys were in the Euro, but when they came back, he changed the team, I was hoping I would start, then he prepared Trossard, then I was on the bench again. I'm like, I can't have this again," explained the eMalahleni-born star.
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"Those were conversations that I was mostly having with myself. What do I do? I mean the situation remains unchanged. I couldn't keep staying on the bench, and yes, it's the Premier League. I'm not just going to suffer because I'm in the Premier League; I want to play. That's when I went to Al Ahly," he added.
"The biggest thing was for me to play and yes, I did have the conversations with the coach and then but anyhow I was not playing, and then the contract issue came up also. Yeah, when I was at Union they promised me a contract (2:33) And when I was there because now I understand them though, because now I'm not playing then they're holding back on that contract talk."
Tau is currently a free agent following his departure from Qatar SC at the end of the 2024/25 season. His next destination remains uncertain, with Betway Premiership giants Kaizer Chiefs reportedly amongst the clubs monitoring his situation.
Photo Cred: Gallo Images
