Bafana Bafana vice-captain Percy Tau has dismissed the views of those who have criticized his decision to leave English Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion and move to Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly.

Tau joined the North African side last week and the career switch led to numerous commentator and observers weighing in, with some saying that the Bafana Bafana striker should have remained in England and fought for his place rather than join the side on the continent.

But Tau did not take too kindly to those who feel he has taken a step backwards by leaving England to join Al Ahly. “I know, of course, that people will always have opinions. We are a big country, and you cannot close that window.

People will always have opinions on such moves. But I have made such moves before. I went from Witbank Spurs to the academy of Mamelodi Sundowns when I was 17 years old. Eventually got to Brighton, though there was uncertainty regarding that move,” he said.

Percy Tau was named Bafana vice-captain on Monday and will be deputy to Supersport United goalkeeper Rowen Williams.  Bafana coach Hugo Broos announced the decision at Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto, where the team had its first training session on Monday ahead of the forthcoming back-to-back 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Zimbabwe and Ghana.