Downs show more intent
The signing of Thembinkosi Lorch tells you all you need to know about Mamelodi Sundowns’ lofty standard and their obsession with dominating the domestic league.
An established player like that couldn’t have come cheap and I can only assume that Orlando Pirates were made an offer they couldn’t refuse for the 30-year-old.
The Buccaneers are definitely poorer without Lorch on the field of play. He made the team stronger and deep down, Pirates coach José Riveiro is probably annoyed.
I don’t think Sundowns need Lorch as much as Pirates. The Brazilians already have a number of players struggling to break into the starting XI.
Gaston Sirino is finding it hard to win his place back in the team. Lesiba Nku and Junior Mendieta haven’t quite settled yet.
The high profile signing of Matías Esquivel is another reason the champions could have done without Lorch.
Abubeker Nasir’s progress has been hampered by injuries, but he’s seen as a future prospect and can play across the front three positions. Tashreeq Matthews has also joined the star-studded team to further strengthen their options in the final third. It will be interesting to see how Lorch will fit in this confusing puzzle.
The former PSL Footballer of the Season’s shock transfer is once again a show of force by the Tshwane giants and reinforces the notion that they will dominate the local scene for the foreseeable future.
You would expect SuperSport United to sell their star players because their financial model depends on it, but Pirates selling to one of their biggest rivals shows just how much the mighty have fallen. If the Bucs management felt they needed to move Lorch on because of his off-the-field troubles, they could have used this transfer to get a player in return.
It would have made more sense to cash in on the popular player while negotiating for Lebohang Maboe, Sirino or Neo Maema, who would have all made Pirates stronger.
If you’re a Pirates or Kaizer Chiefs fan, then buckle up for a bumpy road ahead. Not only are Sundowns talking a big game but they are putting their money where their mouths are.