Thembinkosi Lorch’s Impact at Mamelodi Sundowns
Following his move from Orlando Pirates last month, Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rulani Mokwena expresses delight and looks at Thembinkosi Lorch’s impact.
Lorch dumped Pirates and he was quickly snapped up by the reigning DStv Premiership champions on transfer deadline day.
The astute manager now shares his thoughts on Lorch’s much-anticipated impact at Chloorkop, saying he comes with expectations and pressure to deliver.
At the same time, the former Pirates mentor also heaped praise on the 1995 African champions for selling them one of their prime assets.
Mokwena reveals that the deal was a difficult one to get over the line but the 30-year-old ex-PSL Footballer of the Season eventually made a transfer deadline move to Chloorkop.
“When you have a player like Thembinkosi Lorch that is available on the market and can give you an immediate output by helping the team work towards its objectives, of course, you have to try and see how possible that is,” Mokwena told Sundowns’ media team.
“We want to thank his former club for dealing with the transfer with integrity and respect. That’s how we also try to treat every club with respect and integrity.
“It was not an easy transfer to make but the respect and the cooperation that exists from both clubs allowed it to take place.
“We are delighted to have a player of his stature and magnitude because he comes in with heavy expectations and the pressure to deliver. He is that type of player and big things can be expected from him.”
The reigning league champions will return to their domestic campaign against Golden Arrows on Wednesday next week in a clash that will be played at Mpumalanga Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal.
Masandawana currently sit at the summit of the log table with an impressive 38 points from 14 games as they are yet to suffer a defeat so far.
The coach also talked about their new signings such as Zuko Mdunyelwa and Matias Esquivel who are both 24 years of age while Tashreeq Matthews is still 23.
“We have been very clear with regards to what the club is trying to do in dropping the average age of the squad,” Mokwena added.
“When you look at it from a long-term perspective, we want to have a team that can be able to compete not only in the immediate but have sustained ability to perform and win trophies for an extended period of time.
“That means the age bracket of the players that we try to incorporate in the squad are players that are a little bit younger, players that show incredible potential and who we feel we can work hard on to improve. “Hopefully in the next few years, they can give Mamelodi Sundowns a lot of success that is sustained because Zuko, Matias, and Tashreeq tick that box.”
Read: Latest Mamelodi Sundowns News: R46.7 million Sundowns Signing Esquivel Targets More Glory
