Coach Rulani Mokwena is convinced Mamelodi Sundowns star Thembinkosi Lorch has what it takes to deliver at the highest level for the next couple of years.
The 31-year-old former Orlando Pirates star is currently on loan at Wydad Athletic Club in the Botola Pro League. He was signed on a six-month deal and has since played 16 matches across all competitions, where he has managed to find the back of the net three times.
Lorch is currently with the club in the United States for the expanded 2025 Fifa Club World Cup. The Red Castle are in Group G alongside Manchester City, Juventus, and Al Ain.
Lorch should be scoring more
Mokwena has revealed how he tried to help Lorch be more effective in the final third, and about the movements he makes, but most importantly, how he makes them.
“Lorch has the talent, and we all know that; he’s a player I like a lot for the final third because he has a lot of weapons,” he told iDiski Times.
“When he’s at his best, he influences the result. His adaptation has been gradual. I think he should be scoring more, and I told him this. We worked on certain movements and situations, and he knows how to finish and find the spaces around the box.
“The legs don’t allow for movements from deeper areas that then place greater physical demands in making movements towards the box. This is why he needs to be a bit more patient in movement, receiving the ball, and arriving in spaces than earlier in his career,” he added.
Lorch loves big stage
Mokwena has further explained how Wydad Casablanca have managed to make some adjustments to ensure Lorch fits in well, and helps the team more.
“In recent friendlies, Wydad’s adjustments are evident—more structured in a mid to low block without possession and him having to defend the wide channel on the left makes him play further away from the box because he has to defend closer to [Ayoub] Boucheta in this role and assist [El Mehdi] Moubarik and [Mickael] Malsa or [Ismail] Moutaraji in protecting the left half space and extent the midfield line to protect zone14.
“Maybe this is why they didn’t really create clear chances, creating just 0.8 expected goals (xG) in both games. He can do more and will help the team a lot. He loves a big stage,” Mokwena concluded.
