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By Sibongiseni Gumbi

Football Writer


Sundowns star happy to bide his time

Percy Tau is in no rush to go to Europe, as he focuses on building himself up and collecting as many medals as he can with Mamelodi Sundowns.


The diminutive Masandawana and Bafana Bafana star, who was yesterday crowned the Absa Premiership’s Player-of-the-Month for April, understands that it is not all great players who will get a chance to go overseas.

“Sometimes what you want doesn’t happen,” said Tau. “You have to focus on your reality. That is why I have to keep working hard. I can’t sit round and think that maybe one day it will happen. There have been big players who never made it to Europe. If it happens, it happens. If it doesn’t it doesn’t. It’s not something that will determine if I am successful in my career,” said the 23-year-old.

READ: Tau laughs off Sundowns’ high price tag put on him

Tau has had a wonder season and is among the players tipped for the Player-of-the-Season Award. Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane, who was yesterday named Coach-of-the-Month for April, made it clear yesterday that if Tau doesn’t get the Player-of-the-Season, it would be unfair. Tau says doing what he loves most keeps him going.

“I love football and it has brought happiness to me. Traveling with the team to the Fifa Club World Cup and the Caf Champions League has seen me achieving things I never thought I would. Now I wish I could keep improving and getting better,” he said.

Tau added that the notion that overseas based players are better than locals when it comes to helping Bafana Bafana is not entirely fair.

“I think the league has grown a lot and the coaches are doing well. We can easily relate to what they do in Europe. It just depends on whether the player is ready and experienced enough for the national team level,” he said.

He did, however, admit that he has noticed a little bit of improvement in his former Sundowns teammates Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly, who are now playing in France.

READ: Tau and Mosimane win PSL monthly awards