Mamelodi Sundowns have given some detail into the reported unhappiness of Thembinkosi Lorch, and revealed which players asked to leave before the January transfer window closed.
Lorch was unveiled by Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca over the weekend on a loan deal until the end of the season. It's an opportunity for him to get his career back on track, with coach Rulani Mokwena at the helm.
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The former Orlando Pirates player made just one appearance under Cardoso, as a substitute in the defeat to Raja Casablanca during the CAF Champions League group stages. In total, before leaving Chloorkop, Lorch had made seven appearances, with just two starts.
"Regarding Lorch, as you might imagine, he was not happy here and it's important that the players can be happy. We cannot sustain players that are not in an environment where they can feel they can perform. Sometimes it's important to give them air, they need to breathe so that they can express and also get the game time that they need," Cardoso told media at the press conference after Sundowns hammered Golden Arrows 4-0 at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Sunday evening.
"Lorch is not a young player. In the last years, he has not played that much so it was important to let him go. I called him and I called every player after every decision was analysed. I called Lesiba, I called Lesiba (Nku)...it's important that everyone is happy because we work with men who are not only football players. They have families, kids. For example, with Lesiba I said 'it's time for you to go because you cannot arrive home and you not happy'. People need to have lives and have things work out in the right way so that they follow their path."
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With game time hard to come by regularly for some individuals, Cardoso revealed which players came to him to ask for loan moves.
"Rushine (De Reuck) clearly asked 'let me go play. I need to play' and that's why we made a movement on him. I can also speak about Lebo (Maboe), who is a wonderful person and an important one. He also asked 'coach I want to go play so that I can perform for you to see me', so we gave him this opportunity," Cardoso said.
The players will have an opportunity to shine elsewhere before their futures are decided by the end of June.
