South Africa head coach Hugo has confirmed he is ready to involve Mamelodi Sundowns attacker Thembinkosi Lorch in future assignments.
The 31-year-old last featured for Bafana Bafana under the Belgian in September 2022, during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Morocco, a match they lost 2-1. Injuries limited the versatile attacker from being consistent at former club Orlando Pirates.
Sundowns made a shocking decision to sign the creative attacker in the January transfer window. Since then, ‘Nyoso' has played 23 games and managed to score seven goals and provide three assists.
Ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fixture between Bafana Bafana and Congo scheduled for Friday at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, the 72-year-old was asked whether he could consider recalling the Masandawana player to his team for future games.
Why shouldn’t Lorch be with Bafana Bafana? – Broos
“Lorch? You are speaking [about a player who was in the team] two years ago, so I think I can mention another ten names who were with us but not anymore, I started to build a team three years ago,” Broos stated.
“Maybe it’s hard for some players when I saw them and they didn’t satisfy me, then okay, I started looking for other ones, and now, two years [ago] I have the team that I want, the right mentality, quality and so on.
“You saw the results we had, I don’t see the reason I should go, two years back and say oh yes, this one was also there, it’s the past, it’s not for these moments, but every player will have the possibility to come with us if they have good performances.
“If tomorrow Lorch starts making fantastic performances with Sundowns, then okay, why shouldn’t he be with us then? But that’s not the point today,” he concluded.
Back-to-back wins for Bafana in the matches against Congo will seal their place in the 2025 Afcon finals in Morocco.
