Percy Tau says he is unfazed by all the social media frenzy in South Africa since he joined up with Brighton & Hove Albion officially.
Tau, who signed for the English club three years ago, but only got his work permit to play in England last week, says he doesn’t really follow social media.
The 26-year-old, who had 3 loan spells in Belgium, says that while he is humbled by all the support, he just focusses on his daily routines, and tries to not think about any pressure from the outside.
Andy Naylor, from The Athletic, asked Tau about the South African response, that saw Brighton’s Twitter account gain thousands of new followers and mentions.
“I don’t actually look at it. And I actually don’t follow it, because I’ve got a job that I need to do,” Tau said in his first (online) press conference with the media.
“I have to be at training, I have to rest, I have to speak to my family. So I don’t have so much time off, sitting around and looking at the excitement, and following up everything.”
“I lose track of what’s happening or what’s been said around me. But I understand that back home people are excited, as much as I am.”
“But they’ve got their own targets and goals that they would actually love to see from me, but that doesn’t put me in any position to attach myself to those goals, because some goals you’re gonna achieve them, and some goals you’re not going to achieve them.”
“As much as people are proud, they might say things that are actually – for them they think it’s possible – but for me, I’ll be like, nah, this is not going to happen.”
Tau made his debut in a FA Cup cameo appearance in Brighton’s penalty-shootout win over Newport County on Sunday.
The Seagulls are back in action on Wednesday, when they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium, and Tau is in line to make his English Premier League debut.
