Thembinkosi Lorch is back in South Africa after his loan spell with Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca came to an end.
After impressing at the recently completed FIFA Club World Cup, Wydad were reportedly interested in keeping the 32-year-old former Orlando Pirates star permanently but couldn’t come to an agreement with parent club Mamelodi Sundowns, where he remains contracted.
However, Sundowns don’t seem to have any plans for Lorch going into the new season, and the forward is reportedly training on his own as he looks to remain fit for action.
So, what are Lorch’s options as the new season approaches?
One club that could benefit from his senior-level experience and ability to consistently trouble defences is Kaizer Chiefs, who are still looking to sign senior players with proven PSL experience.
It’s well documented that Chiefs struggled for goals last season. They dominated teams countless times, but their struggles in front of goal saw them fall so far that they finished outside of the top half when the campaign ended.
They’ve attempted to address those struggles by signing Flavio Silva, but the Guinea-Bissau-born Portuguese striker, whose best form was in the Indonesian league, will need time to acclimatise to South African football.
And in last weekend’s Toyota Cup friendly game against Asante Kotoko, Silva didn’t do much to ease fans’ concerns.
With Lorch operating out wide or just behind the striker, Chiefs would gain a player capable of unlocking defences and consistently creating chances for his teammates.
While he would be one of the most creative players in South African football, he also knows his way to goal and could contribute with a goal or two when needed. Lorch would add a lot of value to a young Chiefs side that is short on experience.
If they can convince him to move to Naturena, it could be a shrewd move that does wonders for the club.
With the new season fast approaching, Kaizer Chiefs still have key gaps to fill – especially in attack, where creativity and composure have been lacking. A player like Lorch, with his top-level experience and game-changing ability, could bring much-needed balance and leadership to a side in transition.
He may not be the long-term solution, but in the short term, Lorch could be exactly the kind of difference-maker Chiefs need to get back to winning ways.
IOL Sport
* The views expressed are not necessarily the views of IOL or Independent Media.
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