Clean bill of health for Percy Tau…Al Ahly hint on his return
Al Ahly’s doctors have given forward Percy Tau a clean bill of health, signalling his imminent return to action in Egypt.
The Egyptian Premier League team gave the update on Monday when they stepped up pre-season training.
Al Ahly director of football Sayed Abdelhafiz confirmed to the club’s website the Bafana Bafana star’s availability.
“The player has recovered from his muscular injury, and he will perform the final phase of his rehabilitation program this week. The player is expected to join the group next week,” he said.
The player has struggled at Al Ahly due to injuries and last scored in the domestic league in November 2021.
Al Ahly coach Marcel Koller named the South African in the CAF Champions League squad last week.
Tau also eventually earned his place in the Reds domestic league squad.
Some players missed the cut for the Champions League and domestic league separate squads.
Tau’s possible return to action ends speculation surrounding his future with Al Ahly.
He joined the former Egyptian champions from Brighton and Hove Albion last year in England.
However, the injuries and coach Pitso Mosimane’s resignation from Al Ahly cast doubt on the forward’s future in Cairo.
Tau’s recovery is good news to South Africa coach Hugo Broos who could not select the forward for the forthcoming friendlies.
Tau was among the notable absentees in the squad to face Sierra Leone and then Botswana on September 24 and 26, 2022, in friendlies.
Broos is putting together a strong squad to revive Bafana Bafana’s 2023 AFCON qualifying campaign for Group K.
South Africa’s last match for the group ended in a 2-1 loss to Morocco.
Bafana Bafana’s next assignment for the group is at home against Liberia in March 2023.
Liberia will then host South Africa in the reverse fixture.