Orlando Pirates talisman Thembinkosi Lorch has opened up about his long-awaited return from injury, after the Bafana Bafana attacker marked his return with a goal off the bench in the 2-0 win over All Stars in the Nedbank Cup last 32 clash over the weekend.
The 29-year old had been out of the Pirates squad since August last year due to an injury that required surgery. After returning to training a couple of weeks ago, he finally made the bench for the first time since then.
nedbankcup2023 Results
All Stars 0 – 2 Orlando Pirates
Monnapule Saleng ⚽️
Thembinkosi Lorch ⚽️Buccaneers advances to the Last 16 pic.twitter.com/t8pxsKsDEg
— Zukiswa Tshaka (@ZukiswaTshaka1) February 11, 2023
Speaking about his return, Lorch said: “It wasn’t easy for me, you know coming back from injury. I think I have five months not playing football but I want to thank my family for the support, and the technical team, they physios of the team for pushing me, it wasn’t easy.”
Jose Riveiro’s charges struggled to break down All Stars in the first stanza after the game went to the half-time break goalless, but the Buccaneers had more energy and creativity after Lorch was introduced in the second stanza.
Lorch went on to explain how he changed the game from the bench, as he had a hand in Monnapule Saleng breaking the deadlock just after the hour-mark before he put the game to bed ten minutes later.
“Sitting on the bench helped me a lot, I was watching that game, analyzing the game you know. I saw All Stars they were running all over, so the coach told me I must find the space, I must find the pocket. Even if you can check the first goal I was half space and then I passed to ‘Dzvuka’ (Terrence Dzvukamanja) and ‘Dzvuka’ crossed to Saleng,” he said.
Lorch also thanked the supporters for being behind him during his difficult period. “I’d like to say to them they must keep on supporting, it’s not easy to always get injured and come back stronger, their support means a lot to me,” he added.
