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Thembinkosi Lorch: Orlando Pirates coach Josef Zinnbauer clarifies MTN8 snub

Lorch looked destined for stardom after winning the 2018/19 PSL Footballer of the Season award and breaking into the South Africa national team for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

But after failing to land a move abroad, the tricky winger suffered a dip in form and managed just three goals and five assists in 26 games across all competitions last season.

And with the arrival of Namibia winger Deon Hotto, who occupies Lorch's favoured left-wing role, questions were raised about the 27-year-old's place on the sidelines.

3 - Thembinkosi Lorch
3 - Thembinkosi Lorch
4 - Happy Jele
4 - Happy Jele
6 - Ben Motswari
6 - Ben Motswari
8 - Siphesihle Ndlovu
8 - Siphesihle Ndlovu
7 - Gabadinho Mhango
7 - Gabadinho Mhango
9 - Tshegofatso Mabasa
9 - Tshegofatso Mabasa
11 - Deon Hotto
11 - Deon Hotto
12 - Collins Makgaka
12 - Collins Makgaka
14 - Thulani Hlatshwayo
14 - Thulani Hlatshwayo
16 - Thabang Monare
16 - Thabang Monare
17 - Wayde Jooste
17 - Wayde Jooste
45 - Vincent Pule
45 - Vincent Pule
15 - Fortune Makaringe
15 - Fortune Makaringe
37 - Terrence Dzvukamanja
37 - Terrence Dzvukamanja
21 - Nkanyiso Zungu
21 - Nkanyiso Zungu

"Lorch is a player you know has quality but we made another decision [not to play him] and maybe next game, maybe he's on the bench, maybe he's in [the starting line-up]," Zinnbauer explained.

"We have top quality in this squad and all players have to work and this season we have [more options], we can improve with having two players in each position.

"We've improved this with all the new players which means the old players have to work and the new players [to get into the team].

"Maybe against [AmaZulu] we'll need another player in that position or we change the system a little bit. We know who Lorch is and his quality, we need his quality, and also on the other side of the bench we have other quality players who didn't play so that's good for us."

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