Percy Tau has been in scintillating form in recent weeks and the Bafana Bafana attacker has revealed how his coach at Al Ahly Marcel Koller managed to get the best out of him.
Affectionately known as ‘The Lion of Judah’, Tau is roaring again as he led Al Ahly to a record-extending 11th CAF Champions League title most recently. In addition, he played a major role as Bafana shocked Morocco in the AFCON qualifiers.
Percy Tau played a big role
Tau played a big role in Ahly’s Champions League triumph, scoring five goals and providing five assists in five games. In the process, he became the first South African to win two Champions League titles having also clinched one with Mamelodi Sundowns.
His resurgence at the Cairo giants comes after experiencing a dip in form as a result of injuries. And with his season sharping up, Tau has praised Ahly coach Koller for showing faith in him while on the sidelines.
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“When the coach came I was injured, so we didn’t spend much time,” said Tau.
“When I started doing my rehab and being on the pitch, he [Koller] started talking to me, who I was as a person. He wanted to know me as a person before as a player. Once we got that out of the way, he started telling me where wants me.
“He started me as a striker or as a No. 10 in most games. Then he realised I was able to play in most [attacking] positions, and he noticed that I was spending most of the time on the sides, I was okay there.
“Then he started seeing the rewards, the hard work I put in the game and how I could be of use to him. He put me in a program to do my rehab, it was a special program from the technical team to not come too early but also not come back too late,” added Tau.
As expected, Tau was sharp and dangerous as Bafana beat Morocco 2-1 in their last AFCON qualifier over the weekend at FNB Stadium. Tau scored the opening goal of the game.