Al Ahly coach Pitso Mosimane has reacted to Percy Tau’s Man of the Match display against ES Setif in their CAF Champions League semi-final first leg.
The Bafana Bafana winger silenced his critics with two goals and two assists, leading the reigning champions to a 4-0 first-leg lead over ES Setif.
Tau netted Al Ahly’s opener before Setif’s Amir Karaoke got sent off. The Club of the Century used their one-man advantage to score three more, with Tau assisting Taher Mohamed and Mohamed Sherif before Tau complete his brace.
As a consequence, Mosimane was visibly pleased with his South African star signing after the match.
“I have enough experience because I’ve been a coach for 21 years, we always have a lot of chances but we don’t score. We’d have to be worried if we don’t create chances, but as long as we create, we don’t worry,” he said after the match.
“We have to be patient and believe in our abilities. Percy Tau scored in an important match, he netted in the African semi-final match. I am very happy that he scored the goals.”
Mosimane heaped praise on the opposition coach but also insisted his team were already on top before the red card for Amir Karaoui in the 35th minute..
“We played when Setif still had 11 against 11 on the pitch, we were in control of the match even when it was 11 against 11,” he added.
“If you come here and you get a red card early, in a big game like this, of course we will take the opportunity. You cannot be careless and get a red card and let your team down.
“The coach of ES Setif is very good and brave, but I play against his team, not against him. He’s a very good coach and he’s brave, he didn’t change the tactics even though they were one man less.
“He played with three upfront and six [behind] because he wanted an away goal. And I think they could’ve got a goal, so he didn’t change the tactic. He came exactly the way I saw him.
“I heard him how he speaks about my team, it means he does a good homework also. But he’s a good coach.”
To read the FREE digital version of the iDiski Times newspaper, with interviews with Junior Khanye, Roger de Sa and Sundowns scout Tera Maliwa as well as an update on AmaZulu’s coaching shortlist and rumours about Samir Nurkovic, Miguel Timm and a PSL defender Chiefs are monitoring, click below!
🇿🇦 x 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/s7KC0L2jNT
— iDiski Times (@iDiskiTimes) May 7, 2022
