Tau, Mothiba combo, Bafana’s hope for goals
Pairing could prove deadly for Seychelles
Bafana Bafana’s potential pairing of Percy Tau and Lebogang Mothiba could deliver the goals against Seychelles at FNB Stadium on Saturday (3pm).
After failing to win against Libya in their goalless draw at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban last month, all eyes will be on the Bafana strike force to get the goals.
Bafana coach Stuart Baxter may opt for Tau and Mothiba to lead the frontline.
Mothiba missed the match against Libya because of a thigh injury, but he’s made a return and to top it all, he’s been in fine form for his French Ligue 1 side Racing Strasbourg with four goals in six appearances, including a brace against SCO Angers at the weekend.
Tau, on the other hand, has also been on song for Belgian second division outfit Saint Gilloise. The former Mamelodi Sundowns striker boasts two goals and four assists in eight games.
Speaking to the media after the national side’s training session at Steyn City School in Fourways, Johannesburg yesterday, Tau appeared to relish playing alongside Mothiba.
“The coach chooses who plays, but he [Mothiba] has been doing well even before we went to Zambia [for a four nations tournament early this year],” Tau said.
“So we are happy that he’s here now and he’ll give us an addition to the team. He’s a player that plays according to the structure of the team and that sort of player will always be a good addition,” said the former Premier Soccer League footballer of the year.
With regards to the match against Libya, Tau is not overly concerned that Bafana weren’t able to deliver on home soil and remains optimistic of qualifying from Group E, which also has Nigeria.
“I only believe that there are many positives we can take from the game against Libya. It was unfortunate that we didn’t create so many chances to win the match.”
Tau, meanwhile, is also positive about his loan switch from English Premier League side Brighton Hove & Albion amid talk that playing in the second tier of Belgian football is not good for a player of his quality.
Tau said: “Everything is OK there, we are getting wins and we are top of the log.
“I don’t think I will be able to justify everyone’s opinion, because we live in a society where people have views.
“The path that I have taken and chosen is something that I’ve done before when I went to [National First Division side] Witbank Spurs [on loan from Sundowns]. It worked out. It’s always good to have a personal belief,” Tau added.
‘ ‘ There are positives we can take from the game against Libya