Lorch Misses World Cup, Broos Explains

Bafana Bafana World Cup Squad: Lorch’s Chances Look Slim

Bafana Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has shed light on why Thembinkosi Lorch is unlikely to make the cut for the national team’s World Cup squad. The Belgian coach is set to announce his final squad for the global showpiece, which will take place in the USA, Mexico, and Canada next month.

Lorch, who has been in impressive form since his move from Mamelodi Sundowns to North Africa, has not featured for the national team in over four years. This has sparked debate about his potential inclusion in the World Cup squad. Speaking to Robert Marawa on 947

Broos stated, “Firstly, I think he has many supporters because it’s already been four months that people have been talking about him, but people forget what Lorch did in the last two years. He was leaving Pirates, not because you are a star; he went to Sundowns, and then he left Sundowns. I think he was happy when he was with Rhulani in Morocco, where he could score.” Broos also pointed out that Lorch’s position behind the striker would make it difficult to choose him over other players who have been consistent in the national team.

Broos’ Selection Dilemma

Broos explained that his decision to stick with a group of players who have played together for years is due to the difficulty of selecting just 26 players for the World Cup squad. He said, “I can’t go with 26 players; tell me who has to go out. It’s very difficult to take a player who was never with us and drop a player who was always with us. Therefore, the choice we make is not always a sporting choice; it can be that the guys who have always been with us didn’t disappoint, so why should we change that?” This suggests that Lorch’s chances of making the World Cup squad are slim, despite his current form.