The Premier Soccer League (PSL) Footballer of the Season Thembinkosi Lorch says he’s ready to play his part in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) last 16 match between Bafana Bafana and Egypt at the Cairo International stadium in Egypt on Saturday evening (The match kicks off at 21h00).
Lorch who is yet to taste action in this tournament is going that with Themba Zwane out injured he can finally get some game time.
It’s not clear if coach Stuart Baxter could decide to start with him, in a game of this magnitude, but the public outcry for the Orlando Pirates star could also play its part especially with the team’s attack having lacked a spark so far.
With Zwane out of this game, it’s going to be interesting which attack Baxter is going with for this game.
There’s Thulani Serero, Lebohang Maboe, Sibusiso Vilakazi, and Thembinkosi Lorch all vying for the two spots in the attack. And it’s a game which Lorch also knows they will have to be at their level best.
Egypt comes to this game as overwhelming favourites, having won all their matches in the group stages. And Bafana were less impressive, losing two matches and only winning one, unconvincing it’s got to be said.
But Lorch says this motivates them ahead of this encounter.
Lorch has only been playing professional football for two and a half years now, but he’s already at the AFCON and could possibly taste his first action against the likes of Liverpool star Mo Salah here.
For someone who was playing National First Division (NFD) football not along ago, this is something special.
Pirates signed Lorch from Maluti FET College in 2015, the giant killers who sensationally knocked the Bucs out of the Nedbank Cup few years ago.
They sent him out on loan to Cape Town All Stars and Chippa United and he returned a much better player.
The 25-year-old looks back at the turning of his career. He finished the past season, with very good stats for Pirates, 15 goals and five assists from 40 matches in all competitions.
Despite failing to win some silverware with the Bucs, he was also voted as the Players’ Player of the season. Lorch, who hails from Bloemfontein is crediting the technical team at Pirates for this improvement in his performance. – Report by Velile Mnyandu
This is the magnificent Cairo International Stadium; the venue for Saturday’s titanic clash between the Pharaohs of Egypt and Bafana Bafana.
Kick off 21h00 pic.twitter.com/kF3xdS1kaK— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) July 5, 2019
