Orlando Pirates vice-captain Tapelo Xoki admits the exit of Thembinkosi Lorch to Mamelodi Sundowns on the January transfer deadline day was ‘big news’ to everyone.
Lorch, 30, is widely considered one of the most talented midfielders in the country and while he’s yet to reach the peak of his powers, as injuries disrupted his career in recent seasons, the move to Masandawana was long-mooted.
With him running into the final six months of his contract, personal terms were agreed with the DStv Premiership champions and it became a matter of negotiating a last-minute transfer fee or losing him for free in June, as reported by this publication.
The news sent shockwaves around the football fraternity as one of the most high-profile transfers in local football in recent memory, added to the fact that the technical staff and Pirates squad weren’t aware the deal would happen.
Sources at the time indicated to this website, Lorch was at training as usual on the deadline day before the move was confirmed in the evening by both clubs.
“It was big news to everyone at the club but we have to take it on the chin, it’s football, and such things happen,” Xoki said when asked by iDiski Times about Lorch’s exit.
“In every transfer window, it opens the opportunity for such movements to happen. We wish him well, he was great for us, he’s won [trophies] with us, he’s helped us win, so we can only wish him well wherever he goes [with his career].
“You know where he is now. But we need to make sure we move on from it, as quickly as we can, because we have a second round in the league where we need points, there’s a cup to play for – so we have to take our focus to all of those games we’re gonna face.”
The 2021/22 Premier Soccer League Footballer of the Season has bagged one goal and an assist in his first three games since joining Sundowns.
