‘BELIEF’ PAYS OFF FOR LEOPARDS Pirates’ Lorch is dreaming big
Supporters played a big part in promotion play-off campaign
BLACK Leopards coach Joel Masutha credits the relationship he has with his players for Lidoda Duvha finally ending the curse of the play-offs to gain promotion after three failed attempts in four years.
Leopards had the odds staked against them in their fourth participation in the play-offs in five years. They had never been victorious in the three-team mini-league, facing Jomo Cosmos who had never lost in the play-offs. As if that wasn’t hard enough, Masutha had just over 24 hours to prepare for hosting Platinum Stars and not Ajax Cape Town after the Urban Warriors lost their case concerning Tendai Ndoro, and were condemned to automatic relegation.
“It’s how you treat your players,” Masutha said. “I am friends with my players. I am a coach, yes but in certain situations I become their friend to make them feel at ease. We even discus tactics together. There was in instance in our match against Platinum Stars where I wanted to take out (Meshack) Maphangule. One of the players came to me and said, ‘but coach can’t we sacrifice (Karabo) Tshepe?’ I looked at it and I saw the players were right. That’s how close we are. I encourage the players to be free, speak out and never be afraid to voice their ideas. I have given them a sense of ‘ownership’ in the running of this team, which is why they fought like they did. They were fighting for their club.”
Leopards’ 1-0 win over Cosmos on Wednesday confirmed Leopards’ return to thepsl with eight points, while Cosmos and Stars are on two points each with one match to go. This is the third time Masutha has been promoted with Leopards. He gained promotion as a player in 2001, did so as an assistant coach in 2011, and this year he did it as the head coach.
“I am over the moon, to be honest,” Masutha said. “It’s been an unbelievable turnaround of the season. When we started there wasn’t much hope. But you know, the effort that these boys put in changed everything. We started to believe. Here we are now, we are in the PSL. I also have to thank the fans for the support they gave us. It has been unbelievable. We last experienced this type of support when we got promoted for the first time. We have brought top flight football to them. It’s quite fitting that we thanked them with giving them a status in the PSL.”
Leopards’ and the Vhembe district local government are also trying to thank Lidoda Duvha’s fans by ensuring they play their games at Thohoyandou Stadium. To do that they have to make certain improvements to the ground so that it’s deemed fit to host top flight football. Masutha praised the fans who packed this stadium in their games in the First Division and play-offs.
“They never stopped singing and they never stopped supporting us,” Masutha said. “Our supporters have matured to be honest. There’s a big difference to how they used to behave and how they behave now. These ones come to support the team and not to coach. They didn’t even whistle or signal that someone must be taken out, which is a big thing. They’ve been our 12th man, and I believe next season it’ll be much, much more than this.” DURBAN: Orlando Pirates forward Thembinkosi Lorch is determined to accomplish his dreams in the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Lorch made a telling contribution in his team’s improved showing in the season that has just ended.
It was another season without any silverware for the Bucanneers but they fought gallantly to finish as runners-up in the league and were rewarded with a Caf Champions League spot.
Booking a place in next season’s Champions League has already edged Lorch closer to one of his dreams.
“Playing in the Champions League has always been a big goal for me. I’ve never played in Africa before in my career,” Lorch says.
But his dreams go beyond just campaigning in the Champions League, as he is hungry to win more trophies.
“I’m yet to win a trophy at club level. The only trophy that I have managed to win is the Cosafa Cup which I won with Bafana Bafana while I was still playing for Cape Town All Stars in 2016. Pirates have no excuses next season. We have to fight for all the trophies. I really want to win silverware with them, and we’ll give it a full go for ourselves and the fans, “Lorch assured the Bucanneers’ faithful.
Pirates have endured a four-year barren run with their last success dating back to 2014 when they triumphed in the Nedbank Cup.
“Apart from winning trophies, I want to receive regular Bafana Bafana callups. My goal is to help Bafana to qualify for the Afcon (Africa Cup of Nations) next year. It is every player’s dream to represent his country and play in a big tournament like the Afcon and I’m no different,” he explained.
Lorch was part of the Bafana Bafana team that clinched the Four Nations in Zambia in March, but he was unfortunate to miss out on the Cosafa Cup because of an injury.
“I sustained a shoulder injury against Amazulu towards the end of the season. I fractured a bone in my shoulder and had to have an operation. It was the same shoulder I hurt last season. The difference this season was that it was a fractured bone whereas last season it was just a dislocation.
“However, I’m now recovering and doing the rehab.”
Lorch became a key component in his team’s potent attack that also included the likes of Lovuyo Memela and Justine Shonga.
“Having said that I didn’t start out too well. But I picked up during the second half of the season.
“Now I want to start well in the new season and, most importantly, stay injury free. It is going to be a long season. We will be competing in domestic competitions and in the continent for club and country. That’s why it is important for me to use this time to rest wisely. Time out, especially for me after the injury, is so important.”