Interviews

Tau: South Africans proud to see me at Albion

Striker can understand the fanfare around his arrival in the Premier League.

By Charlie Hanson • 08 January 2021

By Paul Hazlewood
Percy Tau arrived back on the south coast after two-and-a-half years out on loan in Belgium.

Percy Tau says South Africans take pride seeing him with a Premier League team.

The 26-year-old could make his debut on Sunday against Newport County in the FA Cup after he was recalled from a loan spell with Anderlecht on Thursday.

“I am blessed to be here – it has been a long journey and I am grateful for the opportunity in front of me.

“There has always been an excitement back home since I signed for Brighton. I have been out on loan and now they're now celebrating the fact that I am back and ready to play.

“We don't have many South Africans playing in the Premier League. We used to in the past, but at the moment we don't so it gives them pride to see me with Brighton.”

Tau returns to the Amex after two-and-a-half years out on loan, and believes he has learned a huge amount during his time with Royale Union Saint-Gilloise, Club Brugge and Anderlecht.

“It was great and I had some success – I won the league there, I got to play in the Champions League and I have played for two of the biggest teams in Belgium. The experience at each club was different and I had to adapt to that environment.

“But that has helped me grow as a person and I understand a few things better now. I have had more experiences of meeting new people and getting used to different surroundings.

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Percy's back!

“I have learned to show my personality. I am confident, I believe in the talent that God gave me and I will work hard for the team.

“Most teams they have a personality that they want you to show. It's an early stage at Brighton for me and I am learning more about the team’s personality but with time I will understand how they operate.”

His manager at Anderlecht was Manchester City’s title-winning captain Vincent Kompany, who Tau spoke to before he came to the club.

“Vincent Kompany is not a bad person to speak to about the Premier League is he! He gave me his opinion and I will always be grateful to him for showing me the way to go, his experience can help me in my journey. One of the most important things he said to me was to believe and trust in the coach.”