Thembinkosi Lorch on Wydad move – Nobody knew me!

The 31-year-old is currently in the USA with the Red Castle where they will take on Manchester City tonight in their Group G opener with fixtures against Juventus and Al Ain to follow later in the USA.

It’s not yet official whether the loan spell will be extended beyond June 30, but Lorch admits he almost had to start from scratch when he arrived in Casablanca.

"I think it's not easy coming from South Africa to Morocco, where in South Africa everyone knows me. When I came here, no one knew me, so I had to adjust. I think my teammates and my coaches welcomed me really well in the team and even the supporters, I'm fitting well now," Lorch said. 

The Bafana Bafana international adds that having coach Rulani Mokwena at Wydad then also played a big role to help him settle. 

Mokwena has since left the club. 

"I've worked with coach Rulani even before Sundowns. I used to play for Pirates and he coached me at Pirates and then when he went to Sundowns, he fetched me from Pirates to Sundowns,” he added.

“So, I think for me, he's like a brother to me, father figure, friend because everytime when I have problems, I will go to him and then he will give me advice, you know. So, I think it made it easier for me to fit well in the team."

READ: Mamelodi Sundowns not a walk in the park – Keanu Cupido

His parent club are also at the Club World Cup this month with Group F made up of Sundowns, Ulsan HD, Fluminense and Borussia Dortmund. 

"I think both teams have the mentality to win. Both teams have good players. I would say Sundowns likes to play Tiki Taka, Wydad have that style but they are more aggressive. I think that's the difference, I think the difference is that here in Wydad we are aggressive," he added.