Pirates coach rebukes Bafana star for needless red card

by Staff Reporter

Wednesday Nov 27, 2019. 11:00

Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena says he will have words with forward Thembinkosi Lorch after his deserved red card against Polokwane City in the 3-2 Absa Premiership victory for The Buccaneers on Tuesday.

Lorch retaliated against Puleng Tlolane after the latter kicked the ball into him while he lay on the ground, an incident that saw both players sent-off.

Mokwena was not happy that his player let his emotions get the better of him, especially as a senior member of his group and current Bafana Bafana international.

“I will check but I think the red card [for Lorch] is deserved because he is retaliating to a situation where he shouldn’t retaliate,” Mokwena said.

“I saw, unfortunately, they hit him with the ball and the emotions got the better of him. But that sort of behaviour can’t be condoned, we’ll speak to him, it’s not right.”

Pirates were largely in control of the game as they took a 3-1 lead after going a goal down, but conceding late on made for a nervy finish.

“Don’t we love to make it difficult? I think I’m going to die a very young death. My heart can’t take too many of these sorts of matches,” Mokwena said.

“Again, a spirited performance. You know these players … I said to them at half-time that I’m going to start finding nicknames for them of superheroes, like Batman, Superman and all the likes because they are trying to prove how strong they are, how resilient they are.

“We know they are resilient. We know they are spirited. They fight for the badge. They do the best they can especially when the going gets tough you know. So [I am] very proud of them but we’re still being let down by a few details in our matches.”

Pirates moved up to seventh with the win, 12 points behind leaders Kaizer Chiefs, though they have played a game more.