Pitso: I thought Tau was an ice-cream player

Cape Town - Mamelodi Sundowns coach Pitso Mosimane has conceded that he didn't know if Percy Tau had the qualities to succeed at the highest level.

The forward is the joint top scorer with Rodney Ramagalela in the league last season with 11 goals and provided a further two cup goals and 13 assists in the 2017/18 campaign.

The one-time Witbank Spurs forward is heavily favourite to win the PSL Footballer of the Season award in Johannesburg on Tuesday, May 29.

Mosimane never doubted Tau's raw ability but he says he was not convinced that the attacker had the capacity to use his talent to maximum effect.

"I never thought he could play effective football. I thought he is one of those ice-cream players playing to entertain," Mosimane said as quoted by the FourFourTwo website.

"I never thought he could score goals - the best players do that. Then he proved me wrong. He scored nine last year and now 11.

"Really, I ate humble pie and he told me remember you never thought I will make it. I have never had a player who has an opinion like him."

The 24-year-old has become Bafana Bafana's first choice striker over the past two years.

Mosimane also revealed that the striker has a desire to succeed and the hunger to improve.

"I must tell you Percy drives himself, I don't drive Percy," Mosimane said.

"I have told him also and I'm being honest. Through my 15-year football coaching career I have never coached a player like him because of his mentality, the way he thinks.

"I mean this guy keeps me every day before the match, he keeps me and says he wants to show me this and he shows me all the strengths. He shows me all the weaknesses."