Orlando Pirates coach Rhulani Mokwena insists Thembinkosi Lorch remains the best footballer in the country despite his recent disciplinary problems.
The 26-year-old midfielder was awarded PSL Footballer of the Season last term but has so far struggled to live up to the expectations this campaign.
Lorch was sent off in the 3-2 win over Polokwane City on Tuesday for retaliating against Puleng Tlolane, who was also given his marching orders at Orlando Stadium.
The red card wasn’t the first time this season that Lorch has been on the wrong side of things as he was also caught stamping on Khama Billiat in the Telkom Knockout, but Mokwena supports the player wholeheartedly.
“Unfortunately, we forget that he’s still reigning [PSL] Footballer of the Season. He is the Footballer of the Season,” said Mokwena, as quoted by Kickoff.
“And sometimes, I think we put undue pressure because of social media – some of the things that he reads also; the expectations are based more on that, but I always tell him, he’s still the best player in the country.
“Who has the Footballer of the Season award at home? It’s Thembinkosi Lorch. So, he’s got nothing to prove to anybody.”
On the red card against Polokwane, Mokwena added: “With a little bit more emotional intelligence, he could have avoided the situation, but it’s a completely different one to the Chiefs one, so we can’t be too critical of ‘Nyoso’.”