Thembinkosi Lorch Kaizer Chiefs

Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch celebrates his 29th birthday on Friday, 22 July. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Thembinkosi Lorch delighted, but didn’t expect Bafana Bafana call-up

Thembinkosi Lorch says his call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco came as a surprise.

Thembinkosi Lorch Kaizer Chiefs

Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana star midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch celebrates his 29th birthday on Friday, 22 July. Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch says his call-up to the Bafana Bafana squad for Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Morocco came as a surprise.

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Bafana Bafana will do battle with the Atlas Lions at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat later this week and Lorch could feature after receiving his first call up since the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Lorch’s thee-year absence has been due to a combination of a dip in form, the layoff as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and two long-term injuries.

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A groin and shoulder injury kept Lorch sidelined for three months of last season before he made his comeback for the Buccaneers in December 2021.

Since returning to the field of play it’s been generally good news for the 28-year-old as he picked up the man-of-the-match award in the Buccaneers’ CAF Confederation Cup final defeat to Morocco’s RS Berkane, despite missing a late penalty.

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Lorch got over the continental heartbreak by producing arguably his best performance for Orlando Pirates in their following DStv Premiership match against Maritzburg United where he scored a goal and had three assists in a 4-1 win over the Team of Choice.

“It was a tough game because we played the final before the Maritzburg game,” Thembinkosi Lorch told the SAFA media department while on camp this week.

“But the coach told us that we must keep on pushing.”

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Lorch said being called up to the initial 38-man preliminary squad gave him the confidence to express himself in the final few matches and subsequently secure his place in the final squad.

‘I wanted to make the final 23-man squad’ – Thembinkosi Lorch

“When I also saw my name in the preliminary 37-man squad, I said: ‘No, it’s time for me to push now, I need to see my name in the final 23 man.’ It was a good game,” Lorch recalled of the game.

“I managed to score my first goal of the season and assisted three goals, and I got the Man of the Match award. That game gave me confidence to say ‘I am back’ even though my body was tired.”

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Although he’s delighted to be back, Lorch admitted he did not expect to be called up for higher honours so soon after returning to full fitness.

“To be honest, I think the call up was too soon. I didn’t expect it, although I knew that it was going to come because my performance was going up and I was helping the team win games,” he said.

“I remember before the season started, I got a groin injury for six weeks and when I came back, I had a shoulder dislocation and I had to go for an operation. That kept me out for almost three months.”

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Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana have injury clouds hanging over skipper Ronwen Williams and defender Innocent Maela.

Terrence Mashego was ruled out of the match with a knee injury – as reported by The South African website.

South Africa have been drawn in Group K, which also includes Liberia and is made up of just three teams after Zimbabwe were sensationally booted out of qualifying by FIFA due to government interference in the sport.

The top two teams in the final standings will be heading to the Ivory Coast for next year’s AFCON.

Kick-off between Morocco and Bafana Bafana on Thursday, 9 June is scheduled for 21:00 (SA time).

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UPDATED BAFANA BAFANA SQUAD

Goalkeepers (3): Ronwen Williams (SuperSport United), Veli Mothwa (AmaZulu), Bruce Bvuma (Kaizer Chiefs)

Defenders (8): Nyiko Mobbie (Sekhukhune United), Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Grant Kekana (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lyle Lakay (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bandile Shandu (Orlando Pirates), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates), Thibang Phete (Belenenses, Portugal), Taariq Fielies (Cape Town City FC)

Midfielders (4): Spephele Sithole (Belenenses, Portugal), Goodman Mosele (Orlando Pirates), Yusuf Maart (Sekhukhune United), Phathutshedzo Nange (Kaizer Chiefs)

Strikers (7): Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Evidence Makgopa (Baroka FC), Khanyisa Mayo (Cape Town City FC), Fagrie Lakay (Pyramids, Egypt), Lyle Foster (Westerlo, Belgium), Bongokuhle Hlongwane (Minnesota FC, USA), Percy Tau (Al Ahly, Egypt)

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