Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Pitso Mosimane says he needs another year to iron out a few flaws in Percy Tau's game before sending him off to Europe.
The diminutive Tau is arguably the most exciting South African-born attacking talent in the Absa Premiership.
Mosimane believes he is good enough to play in Europe, but says that there are a couple of areas that need to be improved before the player is 100 percent ready to take his game to the next level.
"I always tell him that we are a little bit behind schedule because I wish I could have him‚ the way he's playing (now)‚ at 20‚" he said.
"But it's never too late. He deserves to play football in Europe. But you know me‚ I'm always conservative.
"Last time I said‚ and you guys (the media) wrote about it‚ that Keagan (Dolly‚ who left Sundowns for Montpellier a year ago) needed one more year.
"I remember‚ I think it was Farouk Khan on TV‚ saying‚ 'He's ready - he should go'.
"But I still think I was right. Because he’s a really good football player (but) I needed to work with him for one more year to clean up a few things.
"And as much as we all want Percy to go to Europe‚ we also know that there's a few things we need to clean up‚ a little bit.
"And then let them go to top leagues. Let's have a player in La Liga or Bundesliga."
Mosimane was speaking from the Premier Soccer League offices on Thursday, where he was awarded the December Coach of the Month award.
Tau won the Player of the Month accolade, and team-mate Hlompho Kekana bagged the goal of the month trophy.