Rhulani Mokwena makes bold Thembinkosi Lorch claim amid Orlando Pirates rumours - 'He’s a player I like a lot'

Amid rumours that Rhulani Mokwena is in talks with Orlando Pirates over a potential return to the Premier Soccer League side, the former Mamelodi Sundowns tactician has praised Wydad AC attacking midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch.

Mokwena added that Lorch should be finding the back of the net more regularly, based on what he coached him on.

“Lorch has the talent, and we all know that,” Mokwena told iDiski Times.

“He’s a player I like a lot for the final third because he has a lot of weapons. When he’s at his best, he influences the result," he added.

"His adaptation has been gradual. I think he should be scoring more, and I told him this. We worked on certain movements and situations, and he knows how to finish and find the spaces around the box."

However, Mokwena has pointed out factors that limit Lorch's output.

“The legs don’t allow for movements from deeper areas that then place greater physical demands on making movements towards the box. This is why he needs to be a bit more patient in movement, receiving the ball, and arriving in spaces than earlier in his career,” Mokwena explained.

“In recent friendlies, Wydad’s adjustments are evident—more structured in a mid- to low block without possession, and him having to defend the wide channel on the left makes him play further away from the box because he has to defend closer to [Ayoub] Boucheta in this role and assist [El Mehdi] Moubarik and [Mickael] Malsa or [Ismail] Moutaraji in protecting the left half space and extending the midfield line to protect zone 14," he stressed.

“Maybe this is why they didn’t really create clear chances, creating just 0.8 expected goals (xG) in both games. He can do more and will help the team a lot. He loves a big stage.”

Mokwena has been massively linked with a return to Pirates as his former club searches for a new head coach.

Recent reports indicated that he is in advanced talks with the Buccaneers, and some of the club's legends have also pointed out that he could be a perfect choice to succeed Riveiro.

Mokwena and Lorch worked together at Wydad Casablanca, and that means he knows the South African attacking midfielder inside out.

Predictably, when coaches secure new appointments, they tend to rope in the players they have worked with before. That means the former Mamelodi Sundowns coach might be tempted to sign Lorch for his next club.

The former Orlando Pirates' midfielder is currently focused on the Fifa Club World Cup with Wydad AC.

As a free agent, Mokwena should be talking with clubs behind the scenes before announcing his next destination.