Hugo Broos rules out Thembinkosi Lorch return despite Wydad form

Broos earlier on Thursday announced his latest 22-man Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming international friendly against Zambia, set to take place next week at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha. 

Lorch, who last featured for the national team in 2023, appears to be far down the national pecking order, based on the Belgian’s latest remarks. 

"You have to make choices, that's all, and Lorch was once with us – I think three years ago, when we played in Morocco, and he was playing very well at [Orlando] Pirates at that moment," acknowledged Broos.

"His performance [in Bafana] was not good, and I followed him again and he played, then he didn't play, and he left Pirates and joined [Mamelodi] Sundowns because Rulani [Mokwena] wanted him.

"But after a few months he didn't play anymore, so, okay, now he's playing well in Morocco, but you have to also look at his age – this [player] is not the future, I'm very sorry, and if I shouldn't have other [options], okay, maybe I should take him – maybe."

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With three goals and three assists in seven matches in the CAF Confederation Cup and Botola Pro League this season, many have called for Lorch’s return to the fold. 

But Broos also noted his thinking two years ago with Themba Zwane, who he also deemed too old for the national team at the time, and says this is much the same with the 32-year-old Morocco-based attacker.

"It also happened four years ago with Themba and I wanted to look for options, but I didn't find them, so I had to come back and take Themba, and it turned out to be a very good decision that I took him because you saw what happened with the team," he added.

"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."