Hugo Broos Defends His Decision To Leave Out Thembinkosi Lorch Ahead Of Ghana Friendly

Hugo Broos faced a tense room of reporters as he prepared Bafana Bafana for their friendly against Ghana. The match will act as their final test before the Africa Cup of Nations in December. The coach used the press conference to address criticism over his squad choices. He made it clear he was not moved by public pressure. He focused on what he believes the team needs to succeed.

The biggest debate has centred on Thembinkosi Lorch. Many expected to see him called up, especially after Themba Zwane was ruled out. Lorch has produced strong performances for Wydad Casablanca this season. His recent form led many supporters to ask why he missed out on the tournament.

Broos did not wait for a direct question. He raised the issue himself. He said people only focused on Lorch’s recent displays. He said they ignored the player’s overall performance across the last two years. He reminded the room that Lorch struggled for minutes at Orlando Pirates. He said the club pushed him out. He said Lorch moved to Mamelodi Sundowns hoping to revive his career. He said the winger played a few matches then faded out again. He said Sundowns also let him go.

Broos said Lorch’s first season in Morocco did not stand out. He acknowledged that the past three months looked better. He said that improvement did not change his decision. He said the technical team tracks every player. He said they knew about Lorch’s upturn. He said admiration alone could not guide selection. He said they study a player’s quality in attack and defence. He said they assess whether the player can help the team win.

He said that after evaluating Lorch, he decided the player would not add what he needed. He delivered his view in clear and firm terms. He said the matter was closed.

Broos is under pressure as he finalises preparation for AFCON. He said he is committed to choices based on performance data and team roles. He said he will not pick a player because of public calls. South Africa will face Ghana with this stance in place. The coach continues to believe that sticking to a consistent structure gives the team the best chance to compete.