South Africa football should be abuzz with excitement as the 2010 World Cup hosts’ forward Percy Tau has earned a recall to Brighton & Hove Albion in the Premier League.
Tau’s return to England is surely a bright tone for South Africa football which, for all its riches of talent, world class infrastructure and commercial strength, has, in the recent past, been deprived one of their own in what is considered the best football league in the world.
The Seagulls have recalled the Bafana Bafana player from a two-and-a-half- year loan spell in Belgium where he played for Royal Union Saint-Gilloise then Vincent Kompany-led Anderlecht from 2018.
Being shipped to Belgium seemed a step backwards for the former South Africa Football of the Year who arrived in the Premiership with lots of promise in 2018 from Mamelodi Sundowns.
Now, the Premier League club has announced today that they have received a Governing Body Endorsement, the new points-based system for non-English players which came into force last week when the transition period following the UK’s exit from the European Union ended, from the FA for Tau.
Brighton Coach Graham Potter said has since told the club’s website that he was excited with the prospect of welcoming the attacker from Anderlecht.
“We’re pleased to be able to welcome Percy to the club and begin working with him. I know he’s a player whose progress many of our fans have followed in recent seasons.
“We too have closely monitored his performances in Belgium in the last three years. He’s been playing at a really good level, particularly with Bruges and Anderlecht where he has been involved in the Champions League, and his next step is to show he is ready to make the transition into the Premier League.
“He brings some different attributes and qualities to the group and he wants to take the next step in his career. We’re looking forward to working with him.”
Tau has followed to the Premier League the footsteps of compatriots such as Steven Piennar, Lucan Radebe, Aaron Mokoena, Benni McCarthy, Pierre Issa, Tokelo Rantie, Mbulelo Mabizela, Shaun Bartlett, Andre Arendse and Phil Masinga.