‘Strong character’ Lorch backed to emulate Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi

Former Orlando Pirates goalkeeper Jackson Mabokgwane is backing his ex-team-mate Thembinkosi Lorch to have a long and successful career just like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Lorch is currently playing for Moroccan giants Wydad Athletic Club, who he joined permanently ahead of this season, after impressing initially on a six-month loan deal in the second half of last term.

Nyoso, as he is popularly known, had struggled for gametime at Mamelodi Sundowns, having joined the Brazilians as one of the stars at Pirates, but he has since revived his career and is now one of the leading lights at Wydad, where he has two goals and an assist in four games.

Mabokgwane is not surprised by Lorch’s return to form as he has seen first-hand the forward’s strong character which allows him to bounce back well from setbacks.

Nyoso has been strong down the years

“I remember when he missed the deciding penalty against Baroka in the Telkom Knockout final and we went on to lose,” Mabokgwane told Soccer Laduma.

“He couldn't stop crying after the match. No matter how strong you are as a player, it won't really matter who says what to comfort you when you cost your team in a cup final. You'll blame yourself for the defeat. That night I tried and tried and even ended up thinking we've lost the best of him. That's how shattered he was.

“But the very next match, we played and got a penalty and he went up to take the penalty and he scored. A season or two later, he went on to score the winner from the penalty against me when Pirates beat us (Bloemfontein Celtic) in the (2019) MTN8 final.

Can Lorch emulate Ronaldo and Messi?

“So, he's someone who never allows setbacks to put him down, on or off the field. He's able to bounce back every time and that's also credit to the people around him, like his parents and, of course, his manager Bra Jazzman (Mahlakgane).”

Mabokgwane feels the 32-year-old still has a long way to go in his career and can emulate Ronaldo and Messi who are still playing with the former now 40 while the latter is 38, backing him to win over Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos.

“I am very happy to see him doing as well as he's done, and I only pray that he continues for more years to come,” he added.

“If Messi and Ronaldo can do it, why can't our own do it? I hope ‘Nyoso' goes on to bigger leagues and maybe even a Bafana return, why not?”