The outpouring of disappointment, sadness, cursing and regret that we’ve seen on social media since the news broke that Thembinkosi Lorch had ditched Orlando Pirates for Mamelodi Sundowns clearly shows that people are hurting and it is really unfortunate to see. However, this is not the first and certainly not the last time the supporters’ hearts are broken by the departure of their superstar to join a rival club. So, the sooner people get used to the fact that Lorch is a Sundowns player and get over it, the better.
Bucs supporters have every right to feel hard done by to see their poster boy and most popular player leave. Lorch is not just any other player to Pirates supporters, he has been their most consistent in recent years, barring injuries. He has been that player for the team in recent seasons. He represented the Soweto giants with pride and dignity. He has served the club with everything he had and was one player Pirates supporters identified with the most. He made things happen for the team and was someone the supporters always looked forward to seeing on matchday. Losing him is an understandable pain because they didn’t see the move coming. If it were for an overseas team, none of the Buccaneers would have any issues because that’s the expected progression they had in mind for their favourite footballer.
Losing him to the Brazilians is a bitter pill to swallow, understandably so. No one wants to see their favourite player jump ship to join a rival, but the supporters need to understand that these things happen in football. The good thing is how this move was handled because it has been more than two seasons since the Tshwane giants were reportedly whispering into Nyoso’s ear about their interest in his services. Pirates were simply not willing to release him then or the bargaining power was with them, seeing the player was still contracted to the club. They didn’t want to lose him then and must surely have a reason to have agreed to finally let him go, this time around.
