South African U23 Coach David Notoane has dropped a bombshell over the availability of Percy Tau and a few other overseas players for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Because the Olympics do not fall on FIFA dates, clubs are not obliged to release players, but Notoane says they are speaking to teams, specifically those overseas, about certain players, including Percy Tau.
He says it is an on-going process, and he remains hopeful that players like Tau, Yaya Sithole, Gift Links and others could be released if called up for the tournament that starts at the end of July.
“Amongst the players, as you’ve mentioned, Percy Tau, there’s Sphephelo Sithole, Kgaogelo Chauke, Khanya Letshabela, Gift Links specifically, there’s ongoing engagements with their clubs, who have rendered them as simply unavailable for the Olympics for various reasons,” Notoane said at a press conference on Thursday.
“One is, their pre-season program. Two is contractual situation for some of the players who are entering their last year of their contracts.
“So that beast, that monkey of club versus country is again coming to face us.
“But there’s ongoing discussions behind the scenes engagements with the clubs, to try to make an appeal, so that we can have the best available squad going into the Olympics.
“There’s also a move from leadership to try to engage and appeal to FIFA wherever possible. So hence, those players, at this current moment are not part of this squad.”
