Orlando Pirates star Thembinkosi Lorch admits they have been set clear instructions from the coaching department ahead of facing Mamelodi Sundowns and opened up on their attacking options.
Pirates are currently second in the DStv Premiership, five points behind Sundowns but hold a game in hand – which has seen them tipped as the title rivals to the 2021/22 domestic treble champions.
And they hold a chance to immediately showcase their credentials when they host the reigning MTN8 champions this weekend for the first leg semi-final showdown in the cup competition.
Lorch, however, says there’s not much been said in the camp about the game thus far as they’ve been told to just keep it out of their minds until their first training session this week.
“I think we have good coaches,” Lorch tells iDiski Times. “We haven’t focused much, they have told us not to focus much on Saturday’s game.
“The coach told us to [relax and] only switch our focus from Tuesday. Today we were still off. So he told us we focus from Tuesday and for now just relax.”
The Buccaneers used the FIFA International break to work on the training pitch a bit more, something they were unable to do during the early gruelling season scheduling and played a friendly game against JDR Stars at their home venue this week.
While Lorch is still in the process of recovering from his recent ‘niggling’ injury, he’s offered the current strike force a stamp of approval, stating he is of belief they will come good, from what he’s seen thus far.
“I’m happy with what we have in the club as attacking options even though the goals haven’t come yet – I believe it’s going to click soon and the guys will score,” Lorch concluded.
Pirates will host welcome Sundowns to Orlando Stadium on Saturday afternoon (15h00) in the MTN8 – while Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu will face off in Durban for the other last-four encounter.
Story by Lorenz Kohler (@Lorenz_KO).
