The departure of Thembinkosi Lorch from Orlando Pirates to Mamelodi Sundowns has left a resounding void in the Buccaneers’ midfield, according to Benedict ‘Tso’ Vilakazi.
Vilakazi, who himself has donned the jerseys of both Pirates and Sundowns, expressed his concern over the impact of Lorch’s move on the Pirates’ title aspirations.
“It’s a big loss for Pirates losing a key player like Lorch,” Vilakazi lamented as quoted by The Sowetan. “To lose a player like that to Sundowns is a blow in terms of how you can challenge them for the league. I mean he was a key player.”
Vilakazi, however, sees potential in 28-year-old Lesedi Kapinga as the ideal successor to fill the void left by Lorch’s departure. “I think if they can give Kapinga a chance, he can come in and make a difference,” he said. “Giving him an opportunity will give him confidence because one thing about players is they cannot become bad players overnight.”
While there has been speculation about other players stepping up, Vilakazi believes Kapinga’s style and skill set make him the prime candidate. “No one will replace another player in the team,” Vilakazi asserted. “What you can do is to get the player that can play in the position that Lorch was playing and try to improve him.”
Phakama Kapinga 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏#OnceAlways #OrlandoPirates pic.twitter.com/FJWeb6BXsm
— 𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖊𝖑 𝐻𝑜𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓉 𝑔𝓊𝓎🏴☠️🏴☠️ (@Muvhangotshedza) January 28, 2024
Lorch’s move to Sundowns marks a significant shift in the balance of power within the South African football landscape, with the Buccaneers now faced with the task of regrouping ahead of their upcoming fixtures. Meanwhile, Sundowns have bolstered their squad with several notable acquisitions during the transfer window, further cementing their status as contenders for domestic honours.
As Pirates prepare to resume their DStv Premiership campaign, attention turns to their clash against Chippa United on 13 February, where the absence of Lorch will be keenly felt. Yet, with Vilakazi’s endorsement of Kapinga’s potential, there’s optimism that the Buccaneers can navigate this challenging period and remain competitive in their pursuit of silverware.
