Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Rulani Mokwena has confirmed that Thembinkosi Lorch will not feature in the Nedbank Cup final against Orlando Pirates on Saturday.
The two sides meet at Mbombela Stadium this weekend but the former Pirates star who joined Sundowns on January deadline-day won’t be involved.
Lorch was embroiled in controversy in the last week after going on a live video on his own social media platform, pictured in what many deemed as an “unprofessional situation”.
- ALSO READ: Mokwena breaks silence on Lorch situation
- Downs star in Canal+ African Team of the Season
Mokwena stated he was left disappointed by Lorch and that he called him in tears to apologise about his behaviour, and he’s now confirmed he will not feature and was injured in the 1-0 defeat to Cape Town City.
“On Lorch, is he available for Saturday? No, he is not available,” Mokwena said on Thursday.
“These type of things, and I say this to you guys all the time, when it comes to players you’ll get no negative word from me. I always protect my players in the media.
“In a space where I’m open and honest with them, is when I close my office and I have a face-to-face conversation with them.
“So you’re not going to hear anything about Lorch from me today.”
With the trending video and the incident hanging over Lorch, iDiski Times tried to clarify Lorch’s absence, with Mokwena stating he is injured and might need surgery.
“He’s injured, but he has been removed from the group, yes,” he stated when asked to clarify the reason for Lorch’s absence.
“He got injured against Stellies in Cape Town and he might have to undergo surgery.”
