Former Orlando Pirates star's damning Mamelodi Sundowns assessment - 'I don’t think Lorch has ever clicked, he lacks match fitness'

Thembinkosi Lorch has had a mixed start to the season under coach Manqoba Mngqithi at Mamelodi Sundowns, featuring in five games across all competitions with one goal and one assist.

However, despite these contributions, Lorch seems to be struggling to fully adjust at Chloorkop, having started only two of those matches. His solitary goal came in the Carling Knockout Cup against Golden Arrows, but his impact has been inconsistent.

Junior Khanye, a former Kaizer Chiefs winger turned analyst, has expressed concerns about the former Orlando Pirates star's progress since his move to Sundowns in January, he noted about his long-term fit in the team’s system.

The 31-year olds limited starting opportunities suggest he is still finding his feet in a squad packed with talent and depth.

With expectations high, the pressure is on him to rediscover the form that made him a star at Pirates.

“I don’t think Lorch has ever clicked since joining Sundowns, especially to their style of play,” said Khanye on iDiski TV as reported by iDiski Times.

“He always wants to play when they play counter attacks, which means they find him free behind the defence. He should be making combinations like starting his play from inside then bend his run and then be dangerous. But he always wants to stay on the line and create one on ones.

“He becomes predictable and he’s isolated because when they play to him they are not even supporting him because they know he’s going to want to run. That becomes difficult because he wants to do that often while he doesn’t play regularly.

“He lacks match fitness and also confidence which essentially gets him out of the game.”

Lorch’s journey at Sundowns has been a mix of recovery, brief sparks, and ongoing challenges.

After battling injury setbacks, he has regained fitness and even found the back of the net in the Carling Knockout Cup. However, his limited starts suggest that while he is physically fit, he still faces the challenge of fully integrating into Sundowns’ tactical setup.

With fierce competition for places in a squad brimming with talent, he must build on his moments of brilliance and improve consistency to secure more starting opportunities.

His ability to adapt from being a counterattack specialist to a more dynamic, combination-based player could unlock his true potential at the club.

Looking ahead, Sundowns remain focused on maintaining their winning streak as they sit second on the league table.

With Polokwane City next on their schedule, securing three points will be vital to keep up pressure in the title race.

As the season progresses, Lorch’s contributions—whether from the bench or the starting lineup—could prove crucial in their campaign for domestic dominance.

Sundowns will need both their stars and depth players in peak form to stay ahead in the competitive league.