Rulani Mokwena is unhappy about Thembinkosi Lorch being excluded from Bafana Bafana Squad! | OneFootball

Former Mamelodi Sundowns coach remains firm in his opinions.

Rulani Mokwena is unhappy about Thembinkosi Lorch being excluded from Bafana Bafana Squad!

Amidst the ongoing debate surrounding the latest Bafana Bafana squad selection, MC Alger coach Rulani Mokwena has offered a perspective of hope and a clear roadmap for the omitted Thembinkosi Lorch.

Lorch, whose recent resurgence with Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca has made him a central figure in football conversations, was a notable absence from the national team. This comes after his permanent move from Mamelodi Sundowns to Wydad, a transfer that has successfully revitalized a career that had stalled due to limited playing time.

Drawing a direct parallel to a recent, successful precedent, Mokwena pointed to the inspirational case of Themba Zwane. He recalled how the veteran midfielder was initially excluded by coach Hugo Broos, only to be recalled after performances that became impossible to overlook—a situation Broos himself acknowledged by famously stating that “a wise man changes his mind.”

Mokwena shared the advice he once gave to Zwane, framing it as the very path Lorch must now follow. He stated:

“For Lorch, he just needs to look at Themba Zwane as a source of inspiration. Themba Zwane was in the same position.”

“I remember saying to ‘Mshishi’ that; ‘you have to be so good that it’s difficult to ignore you’. And that’s exactly what he did. Zwane was so good that even though the coach [Broos] at the time didn’t want him for reasons that we have to respect, and also to the credit of Hugo Broos, he mentioned that it was one of the things he got wrong.”

Mokwena expressed optimism that consistency from Lorch would yield a similar change of heart from the national team selectors, especially given the positive reports emerging from his new club.

“That means if he can rescind his opinion on Themba Zwane, I’m sure if Lorch continues this way [he will get a call up], I’m hearing good things about him from the Wydad president [Hicham Ait Menna] about his conduct, professionalism, and his performances.”

In essence, Mokwena's message underscores that Lorch's fate remains in his own hands, with his current trajectory at Wydad being the most compelling argument for a future national team recall.