He insists that the Soweto derby is always an emotional encounter for him and that this Sunday’s MTN 8 Semi-final Second Leg clash between Chiefs and township rivals Pirates will be no different.

After all these years emotions continue to run high for the Chiefs skipper when he comes up against Pirates.“It still a very emotional occasion for me when I play against Pirates.

I do not think that will ever change for me, I achieved many things with them. They were my first top flight club and Chiefs are my team these days.Playing Pirates is always going to be a personal battle for me.”

Tau’s first game for Chiefs against the Buccaneers was on the 29th of October 2005 in a league game which The Amakhosi won 2-0 and Tau was named as the man-of-the-match.

As Tau explained that he draws on that experience whenever he has to face up to his old team, “the first time I played against Pirates as a Chiefs player it was very difficult for me and there was a moment in the build up to that game that I thought I should not play in the game.

I got the strength to make it on to the field and we did well, I always look back at that game and draw strength from it before I play Pirates.”

While Chiefs and Pirates have a rivalry that goes back four decades Tau believes that his personal history in this encounter means that it is all that more important for him on a personal level.

“The pressure of playing in this game will always be there, the history of the rivalry takes you through this game and makes sure that you play at your best, for me there is a personal history in this game and I always want to do well in this fixture” explained Tau.

Since joining Chiefs in 2005 – 2006 Tau has faced Pirates in Cup games on two occasions winning both and he is aiming to ensure that he makes it Cup win number three over them this weekend.

“It would definitely be an achievement if we can beat Pirates, it would be very fulfilling.

This is a big game Pirates are a great team and it would be a major achievement if I can keep the trend going.”