By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos is worried that star attacker Percy Tau may not be ready for the crucial 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers starting in June.
Tau picked up a knee injury at his Egyptian side Al Ahly that is set to leave him on the sidelines for some time, which is something that is not a good for Bafana.
“There has been a bit of a problem with Percy since September,” said Broos.
“He was injured with Ahly (last year)and he was not here for the two games (World Cup qualifiers) against Ethiopia. When he came to the games against Zimbabwe and Ghana he was not 100 percent, he returned with an injury, and now he is injured again. I hope one day it will stop.
“He is a very important player for us, I am also a bit afraid we will have a problem with Tau for June. I hope it is not like that but now he is out for weeks with a knee problem, it is not a good thing for us,” added the Bafana coach, who confirmed that Royal AM striker Victor Letsoalo has been called up in his place.
Broos even suggested that it might be better for Tau to have an extended period without playing at all.
“It’s been a stressful two weeks because of injuries and visa problems,” the coach said ahead of Bafana’s training session at Dobsonville Stadium on Soweto on Monday.
Thibang Phete, Brandon Petersen, and Rivaldo Coetzee were among players who withdrew from Broos’ proposed initial 32-man preliminary squad. Orlando Pirates star Thabang Monare came into camp with an injury, and seems doubtful for the Guinea game, but may be available for the France encounter.
He was pleased though, that after some injury scares he was able to leave with all 23 players from his final squad named last week, except Tau.
Broos said there is no reason why Bafana should not be part of every Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa failed to qualify for the last edition of the continental showpiece in Cameroon this year, something Broos said should never happen going forward and has made it part of his long-term vision.
“I said it already when I came here I did not understand why a country like South Africa was not always playing at the AFCON,” he said.
The Bafana Bafana coach said the friendly matches will be tough but he was not looking for easy games.
Bafana assembled on Sunday and leave on Monday evening to train in Paris for their friendlies against Guinea in Brussels, Belgium on Friday night, then world champions France in Lille next on March 29.