Will Lorch play vs Pirates? Rulani responds

PRETORIA – Mamelodi Sundowns Head Coach Rulani Mokwena has insisted that Thembinkosi Lorch will have to earn his place in the starting XI against his former club Orlando Pirates – like any other player in his squad.

Lorch, 30, is one of four January signing Sundowns completed ahead of the second half of the 2023/24 campaign.

All eyes will be on Lorch on Saturday when Masandawana host his former team Pirates to see whether he will immediately make Mokwena’s starting XI, but the coach remained coy on whether ‘Nyoso’ will start against his former club.

“Lorch comes into the team and he knows he has to earn the right to play,” he told local journalists. “He has to fight like everybody else has to fight for a place in this team and meritocracy is such an important part of my coaching principles and my way of thinking about life and how I see life.

“And of course, then it’s how I see football, you know. So I don’t want to talk too much about Lorch because he needs his football to do the talking for him.”

Injury

While some of Sundowns’ Bafana players still need time and have small injury niggles, it might be a chance for the likes of Lorch and other new faces to get some game-time.

“New signings, settling in well. Tash has come in with some complications a little bit, but training well and now getting better and stronger,”

“Esquivel, adapting is a little bit difficult for him because again also with the language barrier and a completely different way of playing. But settling in well, and I think you can expect some good things from him once he’s well settled and he knows his teammate, and he’s got a little bit more confidence to express himself.

Surprised

“Zuko, very good. I’ve been surprised by Zuko, especially from a physical perspective, he’s got very, very good physical attributes. And a good footballer, too. He learns very, very quickly.

“So yeah, new signings (are) settling in. I think you’ll probably see quite a few in the next few matches, you’ll see quite a few of the new players getting some game-time for sure.”