Miguel Cardoso justifies Thembinkosi Lorch, Rhulani Mokwena reunion - 'He was not happy... we can't sustain players that are not in context of environment'

Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach Rhulani Mokwena signed Thembinkosi Lorch from Orlando Pirates in January 2024, hoping to improve the team.

Reports have it that It was a move that did not impress the club's Sporting Director Flemming Berg.

Mokwena wanted full control as far as club transfers are concerned, but the club wasn't willing to give him that.

Since the exit of Mokwena, Lorch has struggled for game time under immediate former coach Manqoba Mngqithi and most recently Miguel Cardoso.

In the ongoing campaign, 'Nyoso' made just seven appearances for Sundowns across all competitions - most from the bench, and still scored a goal and provided an assist.

Mokwena convinced Lorch to consider joining him in North Africa for the remainder of the season.

Cardoso has now explained why they accepted to let the versatile midfielder leave.

“Lorch, as you can imagine, he was not happy here, and it’s important that players are happy, we cannot sustain players that are not in the context of the environment where they feel they can perform,” the former Esperance coach told the media.

“Sometimes it’s important to give them the air they need to breathe, so they can express and also have the game-time they need to play; Lorch is not a young player. In the last [few months], he’s not played that much, it was important to let him go," Cardoso concluded.

Lorch has a massive chance to prove his doubters wrong by consistently delivering at Wydad AC.

The 31-year-old has a few years left in the top-tier meaning he has to capitalise by getting teams that can give him regular game time.