Jose Riveiro on Lorch’s availability for Nedbank Cup final

Orlando Pirates coach Jose Riveiro has spoken out about Thembinkosi Lorch’s availability for the club’s Nedbank Cup final.

Riveiro’s troops will take on Sekhukhune United on Saturday evening at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.

The Pirates coach held his cards close to his chest about the injury of Lorch, one of the club’s danger men.

Lorch was seen training with the rest of the Pirates squad on Tuesday morning and featured as the Soweto giants hammered AmaZulu 4-0 in a DStv Premiership clash last Saturday.

Prior to that game, Lorch had missed four games, including the Nedbank Cup semi-final clash against rivals Kaizer Chiefs at FNB Stadium.

The influential attacker has had an injury-hit season, as he spent much of the campaign on the sidelines.

The 29-year-old Lorch has made 15 appearances in all competitions with four goals. And without revealing much, a reluctant Riveiro stated that he has more or less a healthy and fit squad.

Jose Riveiro ON ORLANDO PIRATES’ SQUAD

“We finished minus two training an hour ago, and tomorrow [Friday], we will face minus one training with 31 players available to be selected,” said Riveiro in Sandton.

“That’s the good thing. And they are all very good players, to be honest. So, let’s see who will come onto the field on Saturday. I’m not going to say who is going to play. I have a headache, not only to select the starting 11 but the matchday squad.

“The 20 players in the list. You can imagine the names who are not going to be in that 20. So, whoever is coming to the field, is coming with the intention to give their all for the club in order to make it possible for us to get one more trophy.

Riveiro reiterated: “We have almost 100 per cent of the players available for selection. All the players are working hard, trying to convince the coach that they are the right players. And the intensity at training has been higher than usual.”

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