Pitso Mosimane Defends 'Underperforming' Bafana Bafana Stars Percy Tau and Foster Amid Criticism

• Ex-Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has questioned critics of South African players Percy Tau and Lyle Foster
• Tau and Foster have been criticised for not performing for Bafana Bafana the same way they do for their clubs
• The Bafana Bafana of South Africa will face Zimbabwe on Tuesday, June 11, in the World Cup qualifiers

Former Abha coach, Pitso Mosimane, has jumped to the defence of South African stars, Percy Tau and Lyle Foster, following criticisms of their performance for Bafana Bafana.

The duo have come under intense pressure from fans of the national team after a series of underwhelming displays.

Tau, who won another CAF Champions League title in the just-ended campaign with Egyptian giants Al Ahly, has struggled to replicate the same form playing for South Africa.

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Meanwhile, Foster recently returned from a long absence as he dealt with his mental health issues.

“Who has the medals that Percy has? So what is this talk of criticising him? How do you criticise someone that nobody [in South Africa] can match him? How do we criticise that? Someone must say I’ve been to the FIFA Club World Cup three times, like Percy,” Mosimane quizzed as reported by iDiski Times.

“Who [can compete with Percy for accolades]? I have a bronze medal? Show us! Being the third-best team in the world, show us that, win the Champions League, and go to three Champions League finals in a row,” he added.

“I mean how do you criticise our best player? Everyone is being criticised, Lyle Foster, they criticise him, Pienaar was my captain [in Bafana] they criticised him, Benni was criticised."

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Tau and Foster were included in South Africa manager Hugo Broos' team for the qualifiers against Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Bafana Bafana held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw last Friday as they continue their quest for a return to the World Cup, as reported by ESPN.

Mosimane reacts amid Kaizer Chiefs link

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that former Mamelodi Sundowns manager Pitso Mosimane broke his silence on his next coaching job amid serious links with Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League.

Abha Club released the South African tactician after failing to keep the team in the Saudi top-flight league on the final day of the 2023-24 season.

The 59-year-old has long been seen as the favourite to take up the vacant managerial role at Amakhosi, but the Soweto giants are now close to appointing Nasreddine Nabi as their next coach.