Why Lorch has been a success in Morocco

Thembinkosi Lorch is flying the South African flag in Morocco with the Botola Pro League outfit Wydad Casablanca and is proving to be one of the club’s most reliable performers.

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Lorch initially joined the Moroccan side on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns in January, reuniting with coach Rhulani Mokwena, who was in the hot seat at the club. It did not take long for the 32-year-old to adapt to life in Morocco. He went on to become a star player for Wydad at the FIFA Club World Cup and the club did not hesitate to make his move permanent, as they secured a deal for the South African. In this feature, Soccer Laduma’s Tshepang Mailwane looks into why Lorch has done so well for Wydad and whether or not he should make a return to the Bafana Bafana squad.

Sean Louw is one of the people who were part of coach Mokwena’s technical team at Wydad Casablanca last season and he got to see firsthand how Lorch’s move from The Brazilians to the Moroccan giants changed the trajectory of the winger’s career. From being unsettled at Chloorkop, Lorch found a new lease on life in Casablanca and went on to arguably be the side’s best player at the FIFA Club World Cup in the USA a few months later.

Louw, a goalkeeper coach, spoke to Soccer Laduma about why the former Orlando Pirates attacker has been a hit in Morocco.

Why the Morocco move has worked

"He got to Morocco, and it was just a change of scenery. As soon as he landed in Morocco, he was just happy, and his football was better. He was in a happier space.

It was still the same Thembinkosi Lorch, but he was just free in that space, and he got along very well with the supporters. If you get along well with the supporters, then it means you are doing pretty well.