Percy Tau of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifiers match between South Africa and Sudan at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 17 November 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Percy Tau is being played out of position, says Bafana legend
Benni McCarthy believes Bafana Bafana have an underutilised goal-machine in star player, Percy Tau.
Percy Tau of South Africa during the 2021 Afcon Qualifiers match between South Africa and Sudan at the Orlando Stadium, Soweto on the 17 November 2019 ©Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix
Former Bafana Bafana striker Percy Tau has tipped Percy Tau to surpass his goal-scoring record, only if he is used in a central role more often.
The ex-Cape Town City mentor holds South Africa’s all-time scoring record, having netted 31 times in national colours in a career that stretched beyond a decade.
Benni rates Percy Tau’s goal-scoring prowess
Some distance behind him is the Brighton and Hove Albion player who, in only 24 matches for South Africa, has raced to a respectable nine goals.
However, McCarthy feels the 25-year-old is being played outside his favoured position by new Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki.
“I think Percy has got every quality to succeed in Europe and to surpass me as the all-time leading goalscorer in Bafana colours,” he told South African Football Journalists Association (Safja).
“But I think when he does play for the country, they must play him in his favourite position.
“Percy has to play in his best position where he will be able to play the kind of games that you expect and that is to put the ball in the back of the net and chase that all-time goalscoring record.”
Benni McCarthy
Bafana record “there for the taking”
McCarthy finished his international career as South Africa’s most capped player, and surpassed the goal-scoring record of another legendary striker in Shaun Bartlett, who found the net 29 times in national colours.
Players who have had a solid go at the country’s goal-scoring record include former Mamelodi Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs striker Katlego Mphela, who has 23 goals to his name but has since also retired, and has an equal tally to current Amakhosi frontman Bernard Parker.
The latter has not featured for Bafana in five years, and McCarthy believes the record is there for the taking.
“All great players have come and they have failed. It is not that it is such an impossible record to get, it is there for the taking,” he continued. “Percy shouldn’t be played out of position. Every time I watch a Bafana match, I see Percy playing in a different position.”
Benni McCarthy
Tau has spent the last two seasons in Belgium, on loan from Brighton, and has turned out for Royal Union Saint Gilloise and Club Brugge, who he has helped to the 2019/20 league title and a spot in the prestigious Uefa Champions League.
