Orlando Pirates sent shockwaves through the South African football fraternity when they confirm Thembinkosi Lorch’s departure in the January window.
Lorch, who had been a talisman to Pirates was then shortly announced as a Mamelodi Sundowns player.
Lorch left Pirates to join Sundowns
It then took Lorch just half a season for him to finally get the much elusive DStv Premiership title with Sundowns. After winning two MTN8’s and a Nedbank Cup at Pirates, he finally got the big one at Chloorkop. While the Buccaneers confirmed they let the player go following talks with the Chairman Irvin Khoza, it was never really disclosed why ‘Nyoso’ left the club. Now with a video clip surfacing from the clubs Bucs Camp documentary detailing last season.
In this open and honest insert, Pirates star Paseko Mako and Bandile Shandu open up on a rift between Lorch and Deon Hotto. This situation got so bad that it caused division in the squad with players forming groups and taking sides. This all seems to stem from Hotto getting more game time and not being substituted by coach Jose Riveiro. This after the Namibian hit a purple patch of form playing in numerous positions for the club.
“The Lorch and Hotto incident affected the team a lot. I’ll put it the way I see it. Some people didn’t get along with Hotto, I won’t mention names and the guy… and we’re supposed to be a team, When we get into the Weld, they are not passing each other, they tackle each other. It was a major issue that affected the team. Sometimes they didn’t greet each other. The guy, number 3 [Lorch], in my point of view, because he was frequently getting injured and Hotto was scoring and all that, I could say it was a jealousy thing the way I see it. Because others got involved, some are still in the team, it was very deep.” Said Mako.
Big fight with Hotto the reason he left?
When Shandu tried to down play the situation between Lorch and Hotto, Mako was not having it!
“May I interject? No my friend [Shandu], say it the way it is, otherwise it won’t be solved. I remember [an incident] Lorch was in between us [Mako and Shandu]. Hotto tried to greet number 3 [Lorch] and Lorch refused. Lorch did not want to sit and resolve the issue with Hotto, because Hotto wanted to resolve it. Lorch said, ‘No, I don’t want to hear anything from you!’ It was never going to be solved,” Said Mako.
Was this situation becoming unattainable the real season Lorch asked to leave Pirates? watch the full clip below: