Danny Jordaan confident Percy Tau will do well in Europe

by Phumzile Ngcatshe

Wednesday Jul 25, 2018. 11:00

The South African Football Association’s president Danny Jordaan is confident new Brighton & Hove Albion striker Percy Tau will do well in Europe.

Tau left Mamelodi Sundowns to join the Seagulls in the English Premier League on a four-year deal and Jordaan has backed the last season’s Premier Soccer League top scorer.

Following massive speculation that Tau was on his way to Europe, the PSL Footballer of the Season left the Brazilians last week, but will be loaned out to gain European experience.

Moreover, the player will also be loaned out to ensure he is eligible to gain a work permit in England and reports suggest he could join Belgian second division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.

The Bafana Bafana international becomes the first player to switch directly to the EPL since Bongani Khumalo left SuperSport United for Totenham Hotspur in 2010.

"I think it is good for Percy Tau," Jordaan said according to kick-Off.

"Of course there was a tug of war between whether he should go to Spain or England. I have my own views I shall not share with you, whether he should go to Spain or whether he should go to England. But he's a talented young player and we wish him the very best.

"He'll get stronger there because those teams prepare players mentally and physically as you've seen.

"Eight of the teams that came from Europe were all in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the last World Cup, and the final two European teams were there because they could compete.

"They were strong physically to run until the last minute. They went to extra-time; they were physically strong and mentally.

"I think Percy Tau will benefit from the training there and I'm sure he'll become a better player."