South Africa: the biggest exporter on the continent. In footballing terms, Percy Tau is their biggest export following his move to Brighton & Hove Albion from Mamelodi Sundowns in the summer of 2018.
He is capable of playing anywhere across the forward line, as an inverted winger off the right, as a No 10 just off the striker, or even in a false nine role. At 5ft 7in (175cm), Tau stands out for his agility and sharpness in advanced spaces; a two-footed player capable of lockpicking a defence, as equally creative as he is a goalscorer.
The 29-year-old might be the optimum tournament player in that he has never needed consistent minutes to show quality. His assist for Danny Welbeck against West Ham, on his only Premier League start, evidences that: receive, half-turn, through ball.
Not many have Tau’s experience in top-level tournaments. He has 48 appearances in the CAF Champions League, scoring 12 and assisting 14, winning it twice. Tau played every minute of AFCON 2019 when South Africa reached the quarter-finals, with a standout assist from a corner in the group stage against Namibia.
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Publish date : 2024-01-16 08:00:00
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