It's been the most talked-about move in a long time and it's hardly a surprise. Thembinkosi Lorch has made the move to Mamelodi Sundowns from Orlando Pirates, leaving many of the Bucs supporters stunned, but the Siya crew understands that a departure has been long coming for the 30-year-old, who is believed to have been looking for a new challenge in his career. Soccer Laduma investigates.
What The Siya Crew Has Been Told…
It was arguably the biggest signing of the January transfer window, but it did not come without any drama behind the scenes, this publication has been led to believe. Thembinkosi Lorch made the big move from Orlando Pirates to Mamelodi Sundowns on the last day of the January transfer window last Friday, news that sent shockwaves throughout the football fraternity, even if it was a well-known fact that the player had been itching for greener pastures for a while now. According to insiders, the dribbling wizard has been looking for a new challenge and a fresh start in his career and was enticed by joining a Brazilians side that is challenging for major honours on all fronts. Indications are that the Soweto giants were determined to hold on to the player, but when it was clear that he would not sign a new deal in Houghton, the club did not even want to wait until the end of the season to keep him.
They decided it would be best to cash in on their star player rather than hold onto him with no guarantee that he would perform at a top level for the rest of the season. It's believed that the move to Chloorkop did not go down well with chairman Dr Irvin Khoza, as per a Sunday newspaper report, as he rates Lorch highly and wanted to have him on board for a longer period. But signs were clear that the former Chippa United man wanted to make a move and the best option was to let him go to ensure the dressing room remains undisturbed. Lorch's time at Bucs, as Soccer Laduma has been informed, has not always been a smooth one. After winning the 2018/19 Player of the Season accolade, he attracted interest from Europe, believed to be in both France and Belgium. At the time, the creative player was hot property and there were serious offers on the table, but Pirates were not satisfied with what they had received from the clubs in Europe. It's understood that Lorch wanted to make a move abroad and was disappointed that it did not happen at the time. His form dropped as a result and injuries came into play, as the interest from abroad died down. Recently, the player has not showered himself in glory with the court case he had recently for alleged assault. The club was stern in the way they handled the situation, setting an example that they would not tolerate any form of gender-based violence, even if it's one of their star players. He was suspended from club activities for a considerable time, only returning to the training pitch in the second week of December last year.
The Siya crew has been told that Rhulani Mokwena identified Lorch as a player who can come in as one of the main sources of creativity at the Tshwane giants. The two worked together at Pirates and the young tactician has always rated him highly. It's understood that Downs' interest in the player came before the opening of the January transfer window and they upped the ante to ensure they get him on board as soon as possible. While the Siya crew does not have the exact figures, it's believed that the club had put more on the table for Lorch and, at age 30, it felt like the right time to make the move. His contract with the Buccaneers was due to expire at the end of the season and he jumped at the opportunity to join the Brazilians, as he was enticed by a new challenge and the possibility of becoming a league champion for the first time in his career.
What Are The Facts?
The fan-favourite's contract at the Soweto giants was due to expire at the end of the season, but the club felt it was necessary to cash in on the player now after it became clear that he would not renew his deal with the team. Despite the challenges towards the end of his period with Pirates, the 30-year-old has been a key performer for the side over the years. Even though he had his run-in with the law not so long ago, the club was more than willing to keep him due to the fact that he was a valuable player for them and still has a few more years of football left in him. They were willing to offer a long-term deal to keep him on board, but he wanted a different challenge, as this publication has been informed. The MTN8 champions might not be happy with the loss, but they are not likely to miss Lorch too much on the pitch because they have had to do without him for long periods when he was injured and suspended from the team while in and out of court. He is currently in Polokwane with Sundowns as they prepare for the second half of the season, which will see them competing in the DStv Premiership, CAF Champions League and Nedbank Cup.
The story behind the scenes
The contract
It's believed that Lorch has a three-and-a-half-year deal with the DSTV Premiership champions, which has an option to extend, though it's unclear at this stage for how long that is. Sundowns are seeing Lorch as someone they can have for a few years and believe he can have an impact in the squad as they look to continue their dominance of South African football.
Downs want to win Champions League
After winning the African Football League earlier this season, the Siya crew has been informed that the club believe they can go all the way in the CAF Champions League this time round. Knocked out in the semi-finals by Wydad Casablanca last season, the Tshwane giants went into the market to boost their squad with three players, including Lorch. While he was part of the Pirates side that played in the preliminary rounds earlier this season, he will not be cup-tied because he did not feature in any of the matches. This means that Downs can use him in the competition, giving head coach Mokwena more options in attack should they go far in the competition. He was one of the players they identified to add to the squad in an effort to launch a serious challenge for the title they last won in 2016.
Where does he fit in?
With so much quality in the Brazilians team, Lorch will have to work hard to get into the team and fit into a system that is totally different from the one he was used to at Pirates. He might not take too long to adjust to life at Chloorkop, having previously worked with Mokwena at the Houghton-based outfit.
"He is definitely someone who can fit into the role of Themba Zwane and I think Sundowns are looking at the fact that he can be a long-term replacement for Mshishi," Lebohang Mokwena said, as reported on the Soccer Laduma website earlier this week.
Word From His Mentor…
The Siya crew got in touch with Morena Ramoreboli, who coached Lorch at Maluti FET College in the lower ranks, to talk about the big move and why it could make him a better player and person.
"I think we should be honest. Any move a player makes is a good move if he has a reason to make that move. But it should not be a move that is motivated by the fact that he just wants to play for Sundowns. Lorch should not go to Sundowns and say, 'This is my last contract.' He should go to Sundowns and make an impact. I've seen players moving from a big club to another big club and fail to achieve because the mindset changes, where they think it's their last contract as football players. Personally, as long as it's a move that will challenge and will make him work extra hard, I am happy for him and wish him all the best. Lorch is a talented individual. With the pressure and challenges at Sundowns, it will help him to be a better person, a better player and a better professional. I think he moved at the right time. People might not be happy and it's understandable.
Pirates' supporters loved Lorch and they believed in him so much. But I think he moved at the right time when he is mature enough to make his own decisions, where no one would have influenced him to make a decision to go to Sundowns. I don't even think his move was influenced by money. I think he needs a new challenge and wants to try to achieve more and maybe be challenged as a player, especially in the continental tournaments. At his age, he was supposed to be a regular in the Bafana Bafana team. If you see what Themba Zwane is doing, Lorch has the same qualities. People with vision at Sundowns will say if we want somebody who can carry the pressure in the absence of Zwane, the only player who can do that in South Africa is Thembinkosi Lorch. I think it's a good move and I wish him all the best. But like I said, it should not be a move where he just thinks he has done enough in football. It should be a move that motivates him. I know that he is a match winner and I know coach Rhulani will make him a better person."
