Thembinkosi Lorch says his call up came as a surprise

Thembinkosi Lorch might not have had the greatest season. But, he is back and with a bang! “I was working towards a call-up. When I saw that the coach drafted me into his initial squad, it was like recognition – the type I needed to cement the fact that I am on my way back to where I want to be, and that is on the football pitch finding the back of the net be it for my country or club.”

He admits that only recently has his confidence soared, namely the equalising goal in the CAF Confederation Final against AS Berkane and locally in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) against Maritzburg United for his club Orlando Pirates.

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The striker who admittingly states that he was not all lean earlier in the season and that pressures of being an athlete and having to produce constantly did get to him.

“It is hard, because after my shoulder dislocation and the surgery there is downtime so you have to hype yourself and continue to be positive but that is also easier said than done,” admits the 28-year-old who hails from the Free State.

This is his first time under the tutelage of Belgian Coach Hugo Broos and so far he agrees with the coaching philosophy.

“He is a good Coach and to give me a chance along with the other deserving players is not something I take for granted taking into consideration the season that lies behind me, it was hard.”

Tough is the word to describe this forward.

Tough in his approach to his game, tough mentally, and his tough character he will be on the pitch against Morocco – if given the chance.

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When he explained his reasons behind Lorch’s call-up, Broos says he was impressed with the way the 28-year-old played when he went to watch him.

“A few months ago he was still injured, somebody said to me there is a good player in Orlando Pirates but he don’t play because he is injured,” Broos said during the announcement on SABC Sport.

“I said, the moment he plays I will certainly go and look at the game. From the first moment I was very happy with the way he is playing. He’s a guy who is going deep, he runs a lot, he has also the feeling to score.

“So for the moment he is in fantastic shape. Everything succeeds what he does. I think it’s absolutely normal, he has to be with us because some guy like that we can need him certainly in a game like Morocco.

“He can play on the wings and he can play behind the striker but for me I think the best position is when he plays behind the striker.

“When he can run, he runs very fast, he knows where he has to run, he sees the spaces and he can score. For me I think this is his best position,” he concluded.