BREAKING: Percy Tau joins Vietnamese champions

Tau joins Nam Dinh FC

Picture courtesy of Nam Dinh FC

Bafana Bafana vice-captain Percy Tau has secured a shock new move to the Vietnamese V.League, signing for the champions Nam Dinh FC, after spending months on the wilderness as a free agent on the market.

The 31-year-old winger has been unattached since parting ways with Qatar Stars League outfit Qatar SC at the end of last season, having joined the Qatari club on a short-term six-month deal with an option to extend from Al Ahly in January.

During his stint in the Middle East, Tau made 10 appearances and provided four assists, while helping the club to escape relegation with just two points as they finished the season in 10th place in the 12-team championship.

Upon his availability on the market, Egyptian giants Zamalek SC were reportedly keen on landing his signature, while an unnamed club from the Botola Pro League in Morocco was said to be interested. Moreover, Kaizer Chiefs were also linked to the player, but a move never materialized.

Now, the Witbank native is set to embark on a new journey in Asia, where he put pen to paper on a one-year deal with an option to extend by a further 12 months, with the three-time Vietnamese champions.

Tau will join his compatriot, former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Njabulo Blom at the club. The Amakhosi academy graduate completed his move last month, on the back of a loan spell with Nasreddine Nabi’s side from MLS outfit St. Louis City in the previous campaign.

Meanwhile, Nam Dinh will be banking on the experience of both Tau and Blom, among others, as they booked their spot in the Asian Champions League by virtue of clinching the league title with an eight-point gap over second-placed Hanoi last season.

Interestingly, the back-to-back Vietnamese champions, who gained promotion to the elite league by winning the second-tier championship in the 2016/17 season, will be competing in Asia’s premium club competition for the third time in their history.