Percy Tau

Percy Muzi Tau (born 13 May 1994) is a South African professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion and the South African national team.

Percy Tau
Personal information
Full name Percy Muzi Tau[1]
Date of birth (1994-05-13) 13 May 1994
Place of birth Secunda, South Africa
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Brighton & Hove Albion
Number 22
Youth career
Mamelodi Sundowns
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2018 Mamelodi Sundowns 65 (18)
2015–2016 → Witbank Spurs (loan) 11 (3)
2018– Brighton & Hove Albion 2 (0)
2018–2019 → Union SG (loan) 23 (6)
2019–2020 → Club Brugge (loan) 18 (3)
2020–2021 → Anderlecht (loan) 14 (4)
National team‡
2015– South Africa 28 (12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 January 2021 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 17 November 2020 (UTC)

Tau began his footballing career with Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns where he made 100 appearances either side of a loan to Witbank Spurs. During his time with Sundowns, he won the league title twice and the CAF Champions League once and was named Footballer of the Year and joint-top-goalscorer in his final season with the club.

He joined Brighton in 2018 but, due to work-permit complications, was loaned out to Belgian side Union SG with whom he won the Proximus League Player of the Season award. His form earned him a short-term move to Club Brugge, where he won a league winners' medal the following season, before being loaned out for a third consecutive season when he signed for rivals Anderlecht in 2020.

Club career

Mamelodi Sundowns

Born in eMalahleni, Tau began his career with Mamelodi Sundowns in the Premier Soccer League. He made his professional debut for the club on 25 February 2014 in the league against Orlando Pirates. He came on as an 85th-minute substitute for Domingues as Sundowns lost 1–0.[2] Tau then scored his first professional goal for the club during a Nedbank Cup match on 22 March 2014 against Golden Arrows. His 90th-minute goal was the fourth and final goal for Sundowns as they won 4–1 against the Arrows.[3] He then scored his first goal in international club competition on 5 April 2015 in a CAF Champions League match against TP Mazembe. He scored the Sundown's one and only goal of the match in the 84th minute as Mamelodi Sundowns fell 3–1.[4] After two seasons and rarely appearing for Mamelodi Sundowns, Tau was placed on the club's release list for the 2014–15 season.

On the advice of then-youth coach Rhulani Mokwena, he was loaned to National First Division side Witbank Spurs instead.[5] He made his debut for the club on 6 February 2016 in a 3–1 win over African Warriors and went on to score 3 goals in 11 appearances during his loan spell.[6]

After a season with Witbank Spurs, Tau rejoined Mamelodi Sundowns and was included in the squad for the club's CAF Champions League campaign. He featured throughout and played every minute of both legs of a 3–1 aggregate win over Egyptian side Zamalek in the CAF Champions League Final. The victory was Sundowns' first ever triumph in a continental competition.[7] He then scored his first goal in the league for the club on 2 November 2016 against Polokwane City. He scored the first of two goals for the side as they went on to win 2–0.[8] Tau then made his debut for the side in the FIFA Club World Cup on 11 December 2016 against Kashima Antlers. Sundowns were knocked-out of the competition after losing to the Japanese side 2–0.[9] During the fifth place match, Tau scored the only goal for Sundowns as they fell 4–1 to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of South Korea.[10]

During the 2017–18 season, Tau scored 11 goals to help Mamelodi Sundowns to the league title. His form throughout the season saw him share the Lesley Manyathela Golden Boot with Rodney Ramagalela and earned him the Footballer of the Season and Players' Player of the Season awards.[11] As a result of his achievements, Tau was courted by a number of European clubs during the off-season. Amidst the speculation surrounding his future, he refused to join Sundowns in the pre-season preparations in an attempt to force through a move.[12][13]

Brighton & Hove Albion

On 20 July 2018, Tau signed a four-year contract with English Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion,[14] for an undisclosed transfer fee,[12] reported to be in the region of R50 million (UK£2.7 million), a South African record sale of a domestic player.[12] Brighton manager, Chris Hughton, confirmed that Tau would be loaned out shortly after his transfer, after failing a UK work permit, as well as him wanting the South African international to gain European football experience.[15] On 7 January 2021, he returned to Brighton & Hove Albion, after being recalled from his loan spell at Anderlecht.[16][17]

Loan to Union SG

On 15 August, Tau joined Belgian second division side Union SG, owned by Brighton chairman Tony Bloom, on a season-long loan.[18][19] He was immediately introduced into the first team and played a particularly important role in the Belgian Cup during the first half of the season, scoring four goals in six appearances to help the club reach the semi-finals after recording historic wins over both Anderlecht and Genk.[20][21]

In April 2019, after scoring six goals and recording seven assist to help Union finish the season in second place, Tau was one of three players nominated for the Player of the Season award, alongside teammate Faïz Selemani.[22] He ultimately won the award and was named in the league's team of the season.[23][24]

Loan to Club Brugge

On 29 July 2019, Tau signed for Belgian side Club Brugge on loan for the 2019–20 season.[25] He made his debut for the club on 2 August 2019 against Sint-Truiden where he scored in the club's 6–0 home victory.[26] On 13 August, he was sent off with for a second bookable offence during a 3–3 away draw against Dynamo Kiev in what was only his second career Champions League game. Brugge went through 4–3 on aggregate.[27] Tau appeared in the 2–2 away draw at Real Madrid on 1 October, where he assisted the first goal.[28]

The league was ended in May with one remaining match to be played due to Covid–19. Tau played 18 league matches scoring 3 as Club Bruges were announced as the champions, 15 points clear of 2nd place.[29]

Loan to Anderlecht

On 4 August 2020, Tau signed for Belgian club Anderlecht, on a one-year loan.[30] He made his debut for the club on 16 August 2020, coming on as a substitute in the 64th minute against Sint-Truiden, and scored his first goal as Anderlecht won the match 3-1.[31]

Return to Brighton

On 7 January 2021, Tau was recalled by parent club Brighton, after just four months at Anderlecht, following the club receiving a Governing Body Endorsement, the new points-based system for non-English players which came into force when the transition period following the UK's exit from the European Union ended, from the FA for Tau.[16][17] On 10 January 2021, 905 days after signing for The Seagulls Tau made his debut coming on as a substitute in an FA Cup third round tie away at Newport County in which Brighton eventually won on penalties.[32] 3 days later he made his league debut for Brighton starting in the 1–0 Premier League loss at Manchester City.[33]

International career

Tau made his debut for South Africa on 17 October 2015 in a 0–2 loss to Angola in a 2016 African Nations Championship qualification match.[34] On 25 March 2017, he scored his first international goal in the 69th minute against Guinea-Bissau after receiving a yellow card two minutes earlier.

On 13 October 2018, Tau was one of South Africa's goalscorers as the nation recorded its largest ever victory with a 6–0 win over Seychelles in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.[35] On 24 March 2019, he scored twice in a 2–1 win over Libya to secure South Africa's qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.[36] His brace took him to four goals for the qualifying campaign, ranking him among the highest goalscorers in qualification.[37]

Tau was named in the South African squad for the 2019 edition of the African Cup of Nations.[38] He started in all five games for his country where they made the quarter final stage, losing to Nigeria to deny them a semi-final spot.[39]

Career statistics

Club
As of 23 January 2021[40][41][34]
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup2 Continental3 Other4 Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Mamelodi Sundowns 2013–14 PSL 101100—0021
2014–15 PSL 501000111081
2016–17 PSL 29710207240439
2017–18 PSL 30113210100314714
Total 651863301838110025
Witbank Spurs (loan) 2015–16 National First Division11300———113
Brighton & Hove Albion 2018–19 Premier League 000000——00
2019–20 Premier League 000000——00
2020–21 Premier League 202000——40
Total 202000000040
Union SG (loan) 2018–19 Belgian First Division B 23664——633513
Club Brugge (loan) 2019–20 Belgian Pro League 18341—8[lower-alpha 1]000304
Anderlecht (loan) 2020–21 Belgian Pro League 14400000000144
Career total 133341784026314419449
  1. 6 appearances in UEFA Champions League & 2 appearances in UEFA Europa League

1 Includes Nedbank Cup, Belgian Cup and FA Cup matches.
2 Includes Telkom Knockout matches.
3 Includes CAF Champions League & CAF Super Cup matches.
4 Includes MTN 8, Club World Cup and UEFA Europa League play-off matches.

International
As of matches played on 16 November 2020[34]
South Africa
YearAppsGoals
201520
201600
201794
201863
201972
202043
Total2812

International goals
Scores and results list South Africa's goal tally first.[34]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
125 March 2017Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Guinea-Bissau2–03–1Friendly
210 June 2017Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria Nigeria2–02–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
37 October 2017FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Burkina Faso1–03–12018 FIFA World Cup qualification
414 November 2017Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor, Dakar, Senegal Senegal1–11–22018 FIFA World Cup qualification
524 March 2018Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola, Zambia Zambia1–02–02018 Four Nations Tournament
614 October 2018FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Seychelles4–06–02019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
720 November 2018Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa Paraguay1–11–1Friendly
824 March 2019Stade Taïeb Mhiri, Sfax, Tunisia Libya1–02–12019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
92–1
1013 November 2020Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban, South Africa São Tomé and Príncipe1–02–02021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
1116 November 2020Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth, South Africa São Tomé and Príncipe2–14–2
124–2

Honours

Club

Mamelodi Sundowns

Club Brugge

International

South Africa

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League clubs publish 2019/20 retained lists". Premier League. 26 June 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  2. "Sundowns 0–1 Orlando Pirates". Soccerway.
  3. "Golden Arrows 1–4 Sundowns". Soccerway.
  4. "TP Mazembe 3–1 Sundowns". Soccerway.
  5. Molefe, Mazola (4 May 2018). "How Percy Tau went from slacker to superstar at Mamelodi Sundowns". Independent Online. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  6. "African Warriors 1–3 Witbank Spurs". Soccerway.
  7. "Zamalek 1–0 Sundowns". Soccerway.
  8. "Polokwane City 0–2 Sundowns". Soccerway.
  9. "Sundowns 0–2 Kashima Antlers". Soccerway.
  10. "Jeonbuk Motors 4–1 Sundowns". Soccerway.
  11. Ntloko, Mninwa (29 May 2018). "Sundowns' Percy Tau walks away with top honours at glittering PSL awards". Times Live. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  12. Bekker, Liam (24 July 2018). "Percy Tau is a star in waiting for Brighton". FanSided. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  13. Motshwane, Gomolemo (24 July 2018). "Percy Tau's agent thrilled move finally happened". Sowetan Live. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
  14. "Albion complete striker signing". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  15. "Tau excited to make loan impact". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. Retrieved 20 July 2018.
  16. "Tau recalled from Anderlecht". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  17. "PERCY TAU RETURNS TO BRIGHTON". R.S.C. Anderlecht. 7 January 2021. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  18. Naylor, Andy (21 May 2018). "Done deal: Albion chairman Tony Bloom completes takeover of Belgian club Saint Gilloise". The Argus. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  19. "BREAKING: Percy Tau joins Belgian second division side". News 24. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2018.
  20. Crann, Joe (20 December 2018). "Red Hot Tau Leads Giant-Killing In Belgium". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  21. "Joy & Heartache – Phiri & Tau's Cup Fate Confirmed". Soccer Laduma. 30 January 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  22. "Tau earns POTY nomination". Kick Off. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  23. "Bafana star scoops Player of the Year award in Belgium". News 24. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  24. "Proximus League-elftal van het seizoen // RECHTSBUITEN // Percy Tau (Union SG)". Proximus Sport. 31 March 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  25. "Brighton loan South Africa's Percy Tau to Club Bruges - BBC Sport". BBC Sport. 29 July 2019.
  26. "Club Brugge (6) STVV (0) (JPL 1920) - Club". 2 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  27. "Dynamo Kiev (3) Club Brugge (3) - Club". 13 August 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  28. "Real Madrid 2-2 Club Bruges: Former champions escape with draw - BBC Sport". 1 October 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
  29. "Communicatie na de Algemene Vergadering". Jupiler Pro League. 15 May 2020.
  30. https://www.rsca.be/en/news/percy-tau-plays-rsc-anderlecht
  31. "Bafana Bafana international Tau scores on debut for Anderlecht as a super sub". Goal. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  32. "Newport County 1–1(3–4 pens) Brighton & Hove Albion". BBC Sport. 10 January 2021. Retrieved 10 January 2021.
  33. "Manchester City 1–0 Brighton: Phil Foden scores only goal for Pep Guardiola's side". BBC Sport. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 13 January 2021.
  34. "Tau, Percy". National Football Teams. Retrieved 25 March 2017.
  35. Molefe, Mazola (13 October 2018). "Bafana Bafana rock Seychelles in record victory". Independent Online. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  36. Said, Nick (24 March 2019). "Percy Tau scores two goals as Bafana Bafana qualify for Afcon". Times Live. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  37. Kappel, David (25 March 2019). "Tau & Ex-Chiefs Striker Among Top Goalscorers In AFCON Qualification". Soccer Laduma. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  38. "Africa Cup of Nations squads - BBC Sport". 22 May 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  39. "Africa Cup of Nations: Nigeria score in last minute to beat South Africa 2-1 for semi-final spot - BBC Sport". 10 July 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
  40. Percy Tau at Soccerway
  41. Percy Tau at WorldFootball.net
  42. "Club Brugge awarded Belgian Pro League title as season ended early". Sky Sports. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  43. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43375447
  44. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2018/03/21/world/friendlies/south-africa/angola/2758132/
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