‘Off the pitch stuff’ – Chiefs legend reveals real reason behind Lorch’s Bafana snub

Kaizer Chiefs legend Brian Baloyi has made startling claims over why Thembinkosi Lorch continues to be overlooked by Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

Broos has maintained his stance that Lorch is not part of his plans because he feels the player does not add much to his squad while he also has reservations over the forward’s age.

The Bafana Bafana boss has had to hit out at his critics who claim he is wrong to overlook Lorch especially heading to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations given his impressive stats of five goals and four assists in 11 games this season.

Broos also claimed Lorch did not impress him the last time he played under him while he pointed at his exit from Orlando Pirates and his unsuccessful spell at Mamelodi Sundowns as proof enough that he made the right decision to overlook him.  

Baloyi lifts lid on Lorch’s Bafana snub

However, Baloyi claims he has information from reliable sources that the attacker’s omission from Bafana Bafana has nothing to do with his abilities but rather his personality which those in charge of the national team were not comfortable with.

“I spoke to a couple of people. Some people who are within the national team and I heard that it is mainly off the pitch stuff that is mainly made the coach not to take him but not off-field within the camp,” Baloyi said on SoccerBeat.

“I heard that the coach from the last camp, including SAFA, he is outspoken. Lorch was outspoken in camp and they felt that he is divisive to the team, I do not know what way. It is not about his ability on the field and it is unfortunate.”

Lorch played just once under Broos, having managed 61 minutes against Morocco in an AFCON qualifier, which South Africa lost 2-1 in June 2022.