Many were left puzzled this weekend when South African playmaker Thembinkosi Lorch appeared for Wydad Casablanca just days after being officially introduced by Libyan powerhouse Al Ittihad.
Lorch was announced by Al Ittihad last week alongside his Burkinabe teammate Stephane Aziz Ki. Despite the high-profile announcement in Tripoli on Thursday, Lorch was named on the bench for Wydad’s CAF Confederation Cup clash against Maniema Union on Sunday night.
The former Orlando Pirates star entered the fray in the 65th minute, replacing Hamza El Wasti, to help secure a 1-0 victory at the Stade Mohammed V.
FARPost has established that the appearance results from a unique arrangement between the two North African giants. While Lorch has officially signed and is now an Al Ittihad player, the clubs reached a formal agreement allowing him to remain in Morocco for two CAF Confederation Cup fixtures before making the permanent move to Libya.
Lorch could still play his final match for the Red Castle this coming Sunday in the return leg against Maniema in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Immediately following that fixture, he could then travel to Libya to begin his new chapter with Al Ittihad.
“If the coaches decided they need him for the Sunday fixture, he could still stay. We’ll get an indication this week as to whether they need him for the away game in DRC,” a source told FARPost.
WYDAD FIND THEMBINKOSI LORCH REPLACEMENT
The Casablanca-based outfit has since found the perfect replacement for ‘Nyoso’. The signing of Bolivian international Moses Paniagua provided the depth needed for Lorch to depart. The highly rated teenager joins Wydad from Always Ready, where he featured alongside former Kaizer Chiefs striker Jasond Gonzalez.
The 18-year-old has already been capped five times for the Bolivia senior national team, having initially featured for the youth national teams. He is a versatile footballer with the knack of scoring goals wherever he is deployed.
He has previously played right wing and centre forward, although most of his goals and assists have come when playing left midfield.
Paniagua, who has already joined his new teammates in Morocco, replaces the 32-year-old attacker who was growing in stature for Wydad. In 28 appearances since joining the North African giants, Lorch scored eight goals and provided four assists.
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