All fears that Brighton star Percy Tau might be unavailable for international duty has been put to bed.
South Africa star Percy Tau was among the players who checked in for camp duty on Monday ahead of the upcoming AFCON qualifiers against Ghana and Sudan.
Bafana Bafana will host the Black Stars of Ghana on Thursday before they conclude their Group C campaign away in Sudan three days later.
It was initially reported that Brighton might not allow Tau to return to South Africa, as has been the case with many other African players. However, the 26-year-old was released for international duty.
“Good news for Bafana Bafana was the early arrival of star striker Percy Tau who plays in England for Brighton & Hove Albion. Tau jetted into the country on Monday morning and joined his teammates for some video analysis sessions,” announced Safa.
Before news of Tau’s arrival emerged, Bafana Bafana coach Molefi Ntseki had already made backup plans in the event that the player might not be allowed to travel to South Africa.
Orlando Pirates forward Vincent Pule, Cape Town’s Thabo Nodada and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Mothobi Mvala were called up as back up options for Bongani Zungu and Keagan Dolly who ply their trades in Europe in England and France respectively.
Safa said “there were some issues regarding certain overseas-based players” and “they were busy negotiating with respective teams to make sure that all called up players are available for the upcoming games.”
Ntseki also added two more players to his squad. Maritzburg United forward Thabiso Kutumela and Sundowns star Lebohang Maboe came in as replacements for the injured Kermit Erasmus and Bradley Grobler respectively.
It is now the second time in succession that Grobler would have missed an invitation to the Bafana Bafana camp, having also got injured when he was called up for the AFCON qualifiers games back in November 2020.
He has not been available for SuperSport United’s last two league games after picking up an injury in the 1-0 defeat away at Amazulu on the 2nd of March.
South Africa are in second place in Group C, with a tally of nine points, level on points with Ghana who claimed a 2-0 win in the reverse fixture.
A second-place finish would be just enough to see Bafana Bafana clinch a spot in the next AFCON set to take place in Cameroon in January 2022.