Cardoso blamed by ex-Chiefs star for creative struggles – ‘Why didn’t Sundowns keep Lorch?

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso has been blamed for letting Thembinkosi Lorch leave the club despite knowing Lucas Ribeiro was not interested at remaining at the club.

The South American is pushing for an exit from Masandawana in search of a new challenge after his exploits in Mzansi. However, the defending Premier Soccer League champions are reluctant to let the 26-year-old leave.

Nevertheless, they recently opted to let Thembinkosi Lorch leave for Wydad Athletic Club. It was a move that the former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Michael Nkambule believes was a mistake. He argues that the team lacked creativity in the recent MTN8 game against Orlando Pirates, where Masandawana lost in a shootout after a 2-2 aggregate score in the semi-final.

Did Sundowns make a mistake by letting Lorch leave?

“You can see that Ribeiro will leave, you have a player, Lorch, you loaned him out, he was performing, why didn't Sundowns keep Lorch?” he said on Khanye's Podcast.

“They should have kept Lorch and give him a chance if we're being honest. He proved himself at the Club World Cup; everybody was happy, saying we want to see him in the Bafana Bafana squad.

“Sundowns should have taken the advantage, because he's their player, knowing they'll lose a player like Ribeiro. They should have taken Lorch. Now they have creative problems, I saw the coach wants to come with his own players, if the team was winning, why change things?” Nkbambule concluded.

After failing to get into the MTN8 final, Sundowns next play Kaizer Chiefs in the Premier Soccer League outing at the FNB Stadium on Wednesday.