Ntseki is proud of Percy
Tau keeps on getting better as his European adventure continues
BAFANA Bafana star forward Percy Tau is enjoying a dream start to his European journey as his club were crowned champions of Belgium recently.
A wave of jubilation swept through Bruges this past weekend as Club Brugge were officially handed the Jupiter Pro League title – their 16th first division triumph.
Tau is currently on loan with the Belgian outfit from English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
The meteoric rise of Tau has seen him winning the Absa Premiership, the CAF Champions League, CAF Super Cup, Telkom Knockout, Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season, and Belgian First Division Player of the Year awards.
All those accomplishments have been achieved in quick succession, but Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki is confident that this fame will not distract the progress of the mercurial Tau.
“Every stage is the preparation of how you handle fame,” Ntseki stated in an interview with Independent Media.
“How do you handle being popular? Are you still humble with all the success on your shoulders? Do you still give respect to your profession?
“For one to sign with Albion and not play there, it should have been a huge disappointment but he wasn’t deflated and kept on working hard. The Percy that I know is that type of a person because of the journey that he went through. He believes in himself, he works hard and he wants to achieve more.”
In one season, Tau locked horns with giants like Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United in European competitions, which would have helped him to further believe in his abilities.
Ntseki sees more benefits for him as a player and for his national team.
“I don’t see him struggling in terms of handling the success that is coming his way and being a big player for South Africa and Bafana Bafana,” Ntseki saidd.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns playmaker has become an integral part of Bafana because of his potency in front of goal.
“When he is in camp, he is the same player; he always gives respect to other players, he respects the technical team, the support staff and everybody,” Ntseki said.
“When he is getting too much attention from the public, Percy will always stay humble. That will work for him to handle whatever comes his way. He has gone through all the phases in his career and that has prepared him for high levels of life where he has to conduct himself in a different way,” he added.
Ntseki has no doubt Tau will clinch a huge deal with a big club in Europe.
“Over time, Percy will get to where he wants to be and where everyone wants him to be. A top team will come. It is not going to be nice for Percy to sign for a top team and not play. That time will come when he will be ready to play for that top team. Everyone wants him to move to another level of football. His qualities will bring him to that team as long as he is given an opportunity to play. He will showcase his talent and that’s how Percy will become a top player playing for a top team,” Ntseki said.
Tau’s progress will certainly be something of great interest to Ntseki as he tries to rebuild Bafana to become a powerfulhouse they once were in Africa.
The one noticeable weakness in the make-up of the national team in the last decade and a half is that South African football has not produced quality players good enough to feature in top European leagues. The ones who are there are in obscure countries or simply not getting enough game time to be sharp enough when they get a national call-up.
Ntseki acknowledges this, saying: “Such achievements (Tau’s team winning the league) will motivate other players. It will motivate us as South Africans to say we have quality that can always do well overseas.
“We don’t have much of a story to tell recently of our players playing overseas. The last time we had good stories to tell was during the times of Benni McCarthy, Shaun Bartlett, Steven Pienaar and others. Percy is carrying the flag of South Africa and we are proud of his achievements.”