Broos explains Lorch snub

Bafana Bafana coach, Hugo Broos, has made it clear that he will not be calling up Thembinkosi Lorch to the national team despite his scintillating form at Moroccan giants Wydad Casablanca.

Lorch has had a great start to the 2025/26 season in North Africa, scoring four goals in eight games after also having a good FIFA Club World campaign in the USA.

However, Broos insisted that he doesn’t believe Lorch is the future and also revealed that he wasn’t impressed with the former Buccaneer during his last call-up in 2023.

“You have to make choices. Lorch was once with us, I think two years ago when we played in Morocco and he was playing very good at Pirates at that moment. His performance was not good. Then I followed him, he played, then he didn’t play. At Pirates he dropped out of the team and then he went to Sundowns because Rhulani wanted him,” Broos said.

“But after a few months he didn’t play anymore. Ok, now he’s playing good in Morocco, but you also have to look at his age. This is not the future, I’m very sorry, this is not the future,” he added.

The Belgian added that he’s aware of Lorch’s recent performances but insists that he’s not in his plans.

“But, again, for Lorch at the moment I don’t see – even if he has good performances in Morocco, I don’t see any reason why I should take him with the team.”

On Thursday, Broos named a 23-player squad for Bafana Bafana’s friendly against Zambia in Gqeberha on 15 November.

The match forms part of South Africa’s preparations for this year’s AFCON tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.

Bafana Bafana have been drawn in Group B alongside Egypt, Zimbabwe, and Angola.

Bafana Bafana squad to face Zambia on 15 November 2025 in Gqeberha. #BafanaPride @SABC_Sport pic.twitter.com/Ldp1POTBdb

— Bafana Bafana (@BafanaBafana) November 6, 2025

Written by: Ntsako Mukhari