It was a long time in coming, but it was worth it when it finally came for Percy Tau.
The Bafana Bafana star got to strut his stuff at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Just imagine rocking up at the home of the most decorated club in Europe on your Champions League debut.
You run out on the pitch, this pitch where the European Cup has been paraded a record 13 times.
This pitch, on which Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas wrote the legend of Real.
This pitch, where Galacticos like Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo entertained.
And then imagine, those men in the white kits run out, Eden Hazard, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric and Marcelo.
Then the Champions League anthem plays before the game - the adrenaline rush has your heart pumping so hard you want to kots.
ALREADY A CULT HERO: Percy Tau celebrated by Brugge fans. Picture: Supplied.
Most manne would probably let the occasion overawe them. But not Percy Tau.
Breaking beyond the Real defence, his measured pass to Club Brugge teammate Emmanuel Bonaventure was so good, the Nigerian mishit the ball and it still beat Thibaut Courtois.
Go and look at that goal again and you’ll see just how nervous the striker was. He almost tripped himself before he scored his second.
Tau, though, looked composed, calm and sure of himself. He looked like he belonged on this stage. He was ready for his blessing, as they say.
When Tau left SA as the best player in the country and an African Champions League winner two years ago, he would not have thought he was going to be playing in the world’s biggest club competition.
Sent out on loan to Witbank Aces in the ABC Motsepe League, before Pitso Mosimane gave him his chance at Mamelodi Sundowns, Percy was toughened up.
Signed by Brighton, Tau must have known that breaking into the Premier League strugglers’ team would have been tough.
He wouldn’t even get the chance as he was sent on loan to the Belgian second division.
TOUGH LESSONS: Mosimane groomed Tau well. Picture: Supplied.
Here, far from the bright lights, Tau would have to show the league flames to get noticed. And he did, named Player of the Year there.
Perhaps that lesson at Downs early in his career had helped him prepare mentally for that challenge.
He caught the attention of Brugge and after helping them through qualifiers, earned the nickname the Lion of Judah.
With a banner celebrating Tau as “Percy is the Real King” at his new stadium after just two months, it seems that he has arrived.
It’s been a long journey, but if we’ve learnt anything from Percy’s past, it is that he has the perseverance to keep going.
QUALITY: Tau shone in Belgian second division. Picture: Supplied.
After all, he’s only played 90 minutes and this could just be the start.
But long after his career is over, he will remember his night at the Bernabeu.
His team now are second in their Champions League Group A with two points and next face a double-header against table-toppers Paris St Germain.
A face-off against Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Angel di Maria is just what Tau needs to keep him on his toes.