Pitso urges Percy to trek to Europe
STAR PLAYER: INTEREST SHOWN BY THE TOP LEAGUES
Jonty Mark
Pitso Mosimane says it is time for Percy Tau to move to Europe, and that there has been interest in the striker from the English Premier League (EPL).
Stringent work permit rules for footballers in England, however, make it incredibly unlikely that the 24-year-old Sundowns attacker would be able to move to the EPL, even if a club made a concrete offer.
Tau capped a fine domestic season on Tuesday evening by picking up the Premier Soccer League Footballer-of-the-Season award and the Absa Premiership Player’s Player-of-the-Season award.
“Percy is going to be difficult for us (to keep),” said Mosimane.
“We are talking about (him moving to) the top five leagues (in Europe), not Denmark or Sweden. We are talking about Ligue 1 in France, Serie A, the Bundesliga, La Liga, and the EPL. The EPL has knocked on the door.
“Basically (it is because of) what he has done for the year, and the Barcelona game also gave him an opportunity (to show what he can do). In my opinion, he must go, let’s have a player in the EPL, we have no one now. What else can he do for us (Sundowns)?”
If Tau does leave Sundowns, and if Khama Billiat also goes (“Khama is on the edge, it is in Khama’s hands,” says Mosimane), it will be interesting to see who Sundowns bring in as replacements. Sundowns are known for attracting the best players in the Premier Soccer League, and Mosimane did not hesitate in illustrating why.
“Players know that Keagan Dolly, Bongani Zungu, they are now millionaires in Euros, Khama (Billiat) is going, Percy (Tau) is in transit, it is up to other guys to stay with their teams or come here … we play Barcelona, people see Keagan, he played in the Club World Cup and never kicked a ball (for Sundowns) again. Zungu played in the Champions League and was taken off (to France). It is up to a player to say ‘do I stay in a team and miss out on Bafana, and miss out on Sundowns’? I am not saying they aren’t ok in those teams, but that is the way it is.”