Pirates legend Maela makes bold Lorch admission

Former Orlando Pirates captain and recent retiree, Innocent Maela, has made a significant admission, definitively naming Wydad AC attacker Thembinkosi Lorch as the finest player he ever shared a pitch with.

Maela, who hung up his boots at the age of 33 last month, wasted no time in identifying his former teammate when questioned on the Mike Morton Speaks Football podcast.

The Privilege of Playing Alongside Lorch

Maela and Lorch were Buccaneers locker-room colleagues from 2017 until Lorch’s high-profile move to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2024, before the player subsequently transferred to Moroccan giants Wydad AC.

Explaining his decision, Maela cited the attacker’s remarkable development and talent trajectory: “Thembinkosi Lorch easy,” said Maela. “Only because when I joined the club… I saw his development, and I saw him winning the Footballer of the Year and I saw what it took, you know, for him to reach that space.”

Lorch’s quality, which saw him crowned the 2019 PSL Footballer of the Season, continues to shine on the continent. The attacker is currently enjoying a strong season with Wydad AC, having already registered five goals and one assist across all competitions.

Maela concluded: “I mean, you can see the things that he’s doing now there at Wydad. He’s a top, top talent and it was a privilege for me to play alongside him… If I have to choose one, it will be Lorch easily.”

The Bafana Bafana Conundrum

The discussion naturally turned to the ex-Bucs star’s current omission from the Bafana Bafana squad ahead of the 2025 AFCON, a decision attracting continuous debate following the player’s move overseas.

Maela, who has worked under national team coach Hugo Broos, admitted his personal preference conflicted with the coach’s known methodologies.

“If it was me personally, I’d want the best players in our country representing us but it’s not up to me,” Maela stated.

Ultimately, while supporting the national team’s direction, Maela firmly believes Lorch’s form warrants a call-up. “Does he deserve it? Maybe that’s the question. Does he deserve it, absolutely yes. Will the coach take him? We don’t know. Regardless of what happens we still continue supporting the team.”