Orlando Pirates fans panic as Thembinkosi Lorch is left out of squad
Orlando Pirates supporters were left concerned when their key player Thembinkosi Lorch was not included in the team for their match against Cape Town City on Saturday.
Lorch had recently returned from a lengthy injury break and had made an immediate impact on the team. However, his absence was later clarified by coach Jose Riveiro, who stated that the winger was injured.
As per the local publication IdiskiTimes, Orlando Pirates’ head coach, Jose Riveiro, doesn’t seem too worried about the severity of Thembinkosi Lorch’s injury. The report states that Lorch picked up a hip injury during a training session.
“We hoping to see him back as soon as possible and actually I think it’s a minor thing but it happened too close to the game so we didn’t have a margin to solve it.” the Orlando Pirates coach said as quoted by the publication.
“S yeah, we’re happy with him, he’s finding joy during the games and during the week [at training] and we all benefit from that obviously.”
Orlando Pirates XI: Chaine, Sibisi, Maela, Mtethwa, Mako, Hotto, Timm, Monare, Saleng, Dlamini, Dzvukamanja.
Subs: Mpontshane, Monyane, Motshwari, Ndlondlo, Makaringe, Makhaula, Makgopa, Erasmus, Marou.
Orlando Pirates coach explained that although they had aimed to be at the top at the beginning of the season, they were unable to maintain the required consistency to contend for the top position this season.
“When the season started we wished, worked and tried to be at the top, but unfortunately it was impossible to achieve that level of consistency to fight for the top spot this season,” the Orlando Pirates coach said as quoted by TimesLive.
Riveiro expressed his team’s objective to finish the season as high as possible, emphasizing their strong desire to secure the second spot to qualify for Africa next season. He stated that they will continue to push until the end of the season to ensure they are that team. Riveiro also emphasized that what matters is who secures the second spot by the end of the season in May, rather than who is currently in that position.
“Our objective is to finish as high as possible and that means we badly want to be second to play in Africa next season.
“We are going to go all the way until the end trying to make sure we are that team [in second] in the end.
“It doesn’t matter who is second today [Saturday], what matters is who is second at the end of the season in the middle of May.”
