HUGO Broos has explained the reason behind vice-captain Percy Tau’s absence from the latest Bafana Bafana squad.
South Africa are set to resume their 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign next month when the national team takes part in a double-header against Group G rivals Ethiopia.
Bafana Bafana currently top the log standings following a draw against Zimbabwe and victory over Ghana in their opening two matches, but will be without star forward Tau for October’s clash against their East African opponents.
“Percy is injured, that’s the problem,” Broos said during his squad announcement on SABC Sport. “He picked up an injury in the game against Ghana and he went back to his team and he didn’t train, he didn’t play.
“He started training last Friday so I phoned him and I said, ‘Hey, Percy, what’s happening?’ and he said, ‘Yes, I am injured. I am starting training on Friday’ which was two days ago, so I think Percy is not ready.
“When Percy comes to the national team he has to play, he’s an important player, too important for us [to risk] so I can’t take him. I said, ‘Okay, you are no training so, be on the bench’, but then maybe he comes in the game and he has an injury again.
“So, I talked to him and he understood it and I said, ‘Try to be ready for next month because that could maybe be an even more important month than this one.”
- KickOFF
