DURBAN – Orlando Pirates forward Thembinkosi Lorch is determined to accomplish his dreams in the new Premier Soccer League (PSL) season.
Lorch made a telling contribution in his team’s improved showing in the season that has just ended.
It was another season without any silverware for the Bucanneers but they fought gallantly to finish as runners-up in the league and were rewarded with a Caf Champions League spot.
Booking a place in next season’s Champions League has already edged Lorch closer to one of his dreams.
“Playing in the Champions League has always been a big goal for me. I’ve never played in Africa before in my career,” Lorch says.
But his dreams go beyond just campaigning in the Champions League, as he is hungry to win more trophies.
“I’m yet to win a trophy at club level. The only trophy that I have managed to win is the Cosafa Cup which I won with Bafana Bafana while I was still playing for Cape Town All Stars in 2016. Pirates have no excuses next season. We have to fight for all the trophies. I really want to win silverware with them, and we'll give it a full go for ourselves and the fans, “ Lorch assured the Bucanneers' faithful.
Pirates have endured a four-year barren run with their last success dating back to 2014 when they triumphed in the Nedbank Cup.
“Apart from winning trophies, I want to receive regular Bafana Bafana call-ups. My goal is to help Bafana to qualify for the Afcon (Africa Cup of Nations) next year. It is every player's dream to represent his country and play in a big tournament like the Afcon and I’m no different,” he explained.
Lorch was part of the Bafana Bafana team that clinched the Four Nations in Zambia in March, but he was unfortunate to miss out on the Cosafa Cup because of an injury.
“I sustained a shoulder injury against AmaZulu towards the end of the season. I fractured a bone in my shoulder and had to have an operation. It was the same shoulder I hurt last season. The difference this season was that it was a fractured bone whereas last season it was just a dislocation.
"However, I’m now recovering and doing the rehab."
Lorch became a key component in his team's potent attack that also included the likes of Lovuyo Memela and Justine Shonga.
“Having said that I didn’t start out too well. But I picked up during the second half of the season.
"Now I want to start well in the new season and, most importantly, stay injury free. It is going to be a long season. We will be competing in domestic competitions and in the continent for club and country.
“That’s why it is important for me to use this time to rest wisely. Time out, especially for me after the injury, is so important."