OLYMPICS: NO TAU FOR SOUTH AFRICA

Brighton and Hove Albion attacker Percy Tau has been left out of the South African squad for the football event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics starting later this month. He misses the final cut despite being named in the preliminary squad by Olympic team manager David Notoane.

Tau didn’t make the final Olympics squad for South Africa after Brighton turned down the request to release him for the Olympics this summer. Clubs are not obliged to release their players for the football event at the Olympics as it’s not officially recognised by world’s football body, FIFA. Left-footed attacker Tau is the biggest footballer in South Africa and his absence would be a big loss for the South African team.

South Africa are in a difficult group alongside Mexico, hosts Japan and France in Group A. The Olympics start on July 22 until the second week of August.

Tau is expected to be part of the Brighton training camp in Scotland later this month after his Olympics dream was denied by the Seagulls to suggest that he figures in the plans of manager Graham Potter ahead of the new season which starts for Brighton with an away game against Burnley on August 14. While Tau was blocked from representing South Africa at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Brighton have allowed midfielder Alexis Mac Allister to represent Argentina at the Games. The Argentines have been drawn in Group C alongside Spain, Australia and Egypt. Mac Allister would be the only Brighton representative at the Games.

27-year-old South Africa national team star Tau returned to the Seagulls after impressive loan spells at Belgian clubs like Union G, Club Brugge and Anderlecht. He returned to his parent club at the start of this year. Tau has been a Brighton player since the club paid £2.7m to secure his transfer from South African club MamelodiSundowns three years ago.