Mamelodi Sundowns head coach Miguel Cardoso has explained why loaning out Thembinkosi Lorch was a necessary move for the club.
The attacking midfielder joined Wydad Casablanca on loan until the end of the season, reuniting with former coach Rulani Mokwena.
Lorch will be looking for regular playing time after struggling to break into the starting line-up for some time at Sundowns.
Cardoso says Lorch was visibly unhappy and required an environment conducive to performing again.
CARDOSO SAYS LORCH WAS UNHAPPY AT SUNDOWNS
“Regarding Lorch, as you might have imagined, he was not happy here,” said Cardoso after their Betway Premiership match against Golden Arrows on Sunday afternoon in Pretoria.
“It’s important that the players must be happy. We cannot sustain players who are not in an environment where they feel they can perform. Sometimes, it’s very important to give them the air. They need to breathe so that they can express themselves and also have game time because they need to play.
“Lorch is not the young player [anymore], and in the last years, he hasn’t played that much. So, it was important to let him go.”
Meanwhile, the other Sundowns players loaned out are Rushine de Reuck [Maccabi Petah Tikva] and Lebohang Maboe [SuperSport United], while Lesiba Nku was sold to Stellenbosch FC.
Cardoso added that the club was pleased with all the transfer dealings in the recent transfer window [January].
DOWNS PLEASED WITH JANUARY TRANSFER DEALINGS
“I called him [Lorch], and I spoke with all the players [that left] after every decision was finalised. I called everyone – Lesiba, Lebo. I spoke with all of them,” added Cardoso.
“We are at peace with the options we did; everyone is happy. That’s the most important thing that everyone is happy.
“We work with men that are not only football players. They have families and kids, and, for example, with Lesiba, I told him it’s time for you to go because you cannot arrive home and not have your family happy.
“People need to have lives. I’m happy that things happened in the right way so that they follow their paths and they can have places where they can be happy.”
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