Pitso Mosimane defends Percy Tau move, hits back at Benni McCarthy’s claims

Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has defended his latest signing Percy Tau, and has clapped back at Benni McCarthy for his claims about the player’s career trajectory. 

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Mosimane who finally acquired his long-term target Tau, a marquee signing for Al Ahly from Brighton in the English Premier League, has already began protecting his new player. 

Tau’s move split opinions

Shortly after completing his move to Al Ahly, there were a lot of polarising opinions on whether it was the right or the wrong move for Tau. McCarthy, who enjoyed an illustrious career abroad, which included a Champions League triumph with Portuguese giants FC Porto, and stints in England with both Blackburn Rovers and West Ham United, was amongst the most vocal. 

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McCarthy stated that, Tau deciding to leave Brighton and the English Premier League instead of staying to fight for his place, could have a negative impact on South African players who then wish to follow in those very same footsteps and pursue a career in that league. The Bafana Bafana all time top goal scorer also indicated that Tau joining Al Ahly was a backward move in the tricky winger’s career. 

Jingles defends his new signing and hits back

Mosimane who will re-united with “The Lion of Judah” who he coached at former club Mamelodi Sundowns, then came out questioning why the critics, especially those like McCarthy didn’t help Tau stay in Europe, to aid the trajectory of his career. That, was possibly a hint that the Bafana Bafana international didn’t have too many options abroad, which made the move back to the African continent, with Egyptian giants Al Ahly his best option.

“All these people that are saying, Percy( Tau) should’ve gone wherever, who assisted Percy, why didn’t they pick up the phone,” Mosimane said on Soccerzone.

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“No one said, hey I played in England, I played in Portugal, I played in Italy. Pick up the phone, help a brother. Call that club, they know you.  Some of them they have grandstands named after them and all of that. Call other teams, here is a talented young star, I give you my word. They never did. Why does nobody speak about Keagan Dolly leaving Europe to come back to Kaizer Chiefs? Keagan Dolly left Ligue 1 to play for Kaizer Chiefs.” Continued Mosimane on Tau