Lorch’s Wydad teammate ramps up pressure on Bafana coach – ‘He deserves that chance’

Thembinkosi Lorch has been in great form for his club Wydad Athletic Club but that has not been enough to convince Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos to hand him a call-up.

The former Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates forward has three goals in six games for Wydad with the latest being a beautifully chipped penalty against Ghana’s Asante Kotoko in the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend.

Lorch is also renown for his playmaking abilities and one of his team-mates at Wydad has expressed his surprise at the lack of opportunities in the national team for the 32-year-old.

 Lorch’s form lauded by teammate

“Lorch is doing great, I’m happy for him. I really wish he would continue like this,” Botswana striker Tumisang Orebonye, who plays with Lorch at Wydad, told FARPost. “He not only shines on his own, but he’s a player who gets the best out of you as a teammate. You’ll be happy to play alongside him.”

Orebonye says he has been watching Lorch since his days at Orlando Pirates when he produced his best form before his stock fell at Sundowns, where he was rarely utilized, before moving to Wydad to revive his career, and he is thrilled with what he is seeing.

“Now I get to see Lorch doing things he was doing. He’s a quiet guy; he does the talking on the field. He’s on form from last season to the FIFA Club World Cup; he was performing,” he added.

Should Nyoso be recalled to Bafana squad?

“I wouldn’t know why he isn’t making the national team, but he certainly deserves that chance.”

Broos was recently asked about Lorch’s exclusion but he sidestepped the topic although he has maintained the star forward is among the players he considers ‘old’ and it remains to be seen if he will change his mind in future.

Lorch last featured for Bafana Bafana in June 2022 during their 2-1 loss to Morocco in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, managing 61 minutes, and has not been recalled to the national team since then.