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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Thembinkosi Lorch has played three times for Downs </li><li>Mokwena under pressure to start the former Pirates star</li><li>He stands a chance to get more game time in the Caf CL</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena reveals why former Orlando Pirates Thembinkosi Lorch has not walked into the PSL defending champions' starting line-up

When Thembinkosi Lorch was introduced as a 73rd minute substitute <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/lucas-ribeiro-costa-s-hat-trick-inspires-mamelodi-sundowns-to-an-emphatic-victory-over-amazulu/bltb83ae31d2bda0d72" target="_blank">in the 3-0 drubbing of AmaZulu on Tuesday night</a>, the crowd at the Loftus Versfeld erupted with cheers - a clear indication of the admiration Masandawana supporters have for the former Orlando Pirates man.His coach, Mokwena revealed that he has been confronted with a similar question of why Lorch has not walked into Sundowns' star studded line-up.

WHAT HAPPENED?

'Nyoso', as he is affectionately known, has made two appearances off the bench and started just one game so far for Downs and Mokwena has revealed that the 30-year-old is likely to come off the bench rather than being named in the starting line-up.At Pirates this season, he played eight times in the league, missing much of the action<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/psl-heavyweights-orlando-pirates-have-suspended-midfielder-thembinkosi-lorch-following-his-conviction-by-the-randburg-magistrate-s-court/blt41eb75020621e31a" target="_blank"> after he was suspended </a>when he was dealing with the might of the law. Lorch<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/thembinkosi-lorch-assault-case-court-fines-orlando-pirates-star-on-top-of-a-five-year-suspended-jail-sentence/blt552e9ad0afe51e8c" target="_self"> avoided serving jail time after being found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend in November last year as he was ordered to pay a hefty fine</a>.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

"The business end of the season requires a lot of sober mindedness. If you look at a player like Lorch, people ask why he is on the bench," <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF1ptyQXedI" target="_blank">Mokwena told members of the media</a> after he guided Sundowns to 40 unbeaten PSL games."He has to be integrated into the system and not on how we play but the travelling as well. Lorch is not used to every two or three days he is at camp."He will come alright, same with Junior Mendieta, Zuko Mdunyelwa, Divine Lunga has been excellent," Mokwena added.

WHAT WAS SAID

Lorch opened his scoring account in the<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-za/lists/caf-champions-league-group-stage-format-results-prize-money-and-everything-you-need-to-know/blt4f3e756de75aba6c" target="_blank"> Caf Champions League </a>where he netted against Nouadhibou. Now heading into this Saturday's dead rubber tie or top of the table clash - depending on how you look at it - against TP Mazembe, Lorch might be given more minutes on the field.Sundowns and the Democratic Republic of Congo outfit both sit on 10 points in Group A and have qualified for the knockout stages, leaving Mauritania's Nouadhibou and Pyramids of Egypt with four points ahead of the last round.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena reveals why former Orlando Pirates Thembinkosi Lorch has not walked into the PSL defending champions' starting line-up | Goal.com South Africa

Rhulani Mokwena has asked Mamelodi Sundowns supporters to not put pressure on him to start Thembinkosi Lorch as he still needs to adapt.

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena reveals why former Orlando Pirates Thembinkosi Lorch has not walked into the PSL defending champions&apos; starting line-up