Coach Pitso Mosimane has reacted to reports that his Saudi Arabian team, Al Ahli Saudi Club, is interested in signing Orlando Pirates forward Thembinkosi Lorch.
The Al Ahli coach said he was unaware of his Saudi Arabian second-tier league team’s advances on Thembinkosi Lorch.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns coach said he and Pirates chairperson, Dr Irvin Khoza, would have been the first to know Al Ahli’s interest in Thembinkosi Lorch.
“If Al Ahli wants Thembinkosi Lorch, me and Chairman Khoza would be the first people to know that,” Mosimane tweeted.
“…and nobody will know until Orlando Pirates announce [that] the deal [has] been done. If the news is true, then I am not aware of that.”
HOW A FAN REACTED TO PITSO MOSIMANE’S REMARKS
In reaction to Mosimane’s tweet, a fan calling himself @20D wrote: “Mosimane coach, the fans of Al-Ahli Club are in millions [plus] the media…the most important thing for us is the support of the team. Super deals. I wish the administration and you success.”
Thembinkosi Lorch can add value to Mosimane’s side, which is chasing promotion to the Saudi Arabia Pro League.
Al Ahli have been struggling to score enough goals, with most of their games ending in stalemates.
THEMBINKOSI LORCH CAN ADD VALUE TO AL AHLI’S ATTACK
Last Wednesday, Al Ahli returned to winning ways after brushing aside Al-Shoulla 2-0. The win ended a run of two consecutive draws that had threatened to undermine Mosimane’s promotion hopes.
Al Ahli have now won twice in the last four consecutive games. Wednesday’s win saw Al Ahli maintaining their sixth place on the 18-member log table.
Earlier, Mosimane’s charges had shared the spoils at 0-0 with Al Arabi on December 27 2022. Al Ahli went into Wednesday’s contest after a two-all draw against Al-Sahel on December 31 2022.
Mosimane’s club sits six points behind leaders Al-Faisaly. All five teams in front of Al Ahli have played either one or two games more.
After playing eight league games, the former Sundowns boss remains unbeaten in his reign at Al Ahli.
The former Bafana Bafana coach has presided over four wins, and four draws since he joined the Jeddah-based team.
Al Ahli’s management plucked Mosimane from his sabbatical after he had walked out on Al Ahly’s job in Egypt mid this year.
Promotion to the Pro League would see Mosimane’s team rubbing shoulders with Cristiano Ronaldo’s new employers, Al-Nassr, next season.
The next game for Al Ahli will be against Al-Qadisiyah, away on January 10 2023. Thereafter, Al Ahli’s other match would be against Al-Faisaly four days later.
Al Shoulla anchor the standings after collecting just 10 points from 14 games.
RELATED STORY: Pirates coach explains Erasmus, Lorch absence and gives update on Makgopa