Reigning Moroccan Botola Pro champions MAS Fès have completed the signature of Stellenbosch FC star Devin Titus after triggering his buy-out clause, while also setting their sights on Thembinkosi Lorch.
Titus was unveiled by the North African giants on Sunday after penning a permanent deal. The move sees the 25-year-old forward join former Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa at MAS Fès.
The squad rebuild comes after former AmaZulu FC head coach Pablo Franco Martín guided the club to the Botola Pro league title last season before departing, as MAS Fès now prepare for their title defence and an ambitious CAF Champions League campaign.
Titus’ departure brings down the curtain on a remarkable chapter in the Cape Winelands. Since rising through Stellies’ youth structures, Titus established himself as a mainstay in the first team, rewriting the club’s record books as their most featured outfield player with 176 appearances and cementing his place as their second-highest goalscorer of all time with 36 strikes.
His journey from leading the reserve team to back-to-back DStv Diski Challenge and Premier League Next Gen silverware in 2022 paved the way for his rapid emergence as an indispensable senior figure.
During his five-year spell in the top flight, the Bafana Bafana international displayed incredible durability by sitting out just one league match across four full campaigns. He proved instrumental in driving the Winelands outfit to historic milestones, playing a central role in their 2023 Carling Knockout triumph—where he picked up Player of the Tournament honours—alongside consecutive MTN8 final appearances and back-to-back qualifications for continental football in the CAF Confederation Cup.
MAS FÈS PLOTTING LORCH SWOOP
Meanwhile, according to reports, MAS Fès are locked in discussions to bring former Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns talisman Thembinkosi Lorch back to North Africa as they attempt to assemble a formidable South African contingent in Fez.
The 33-year-old’s stint with Libyan outfit Al Ittihad appears to be reaching an early conclusion following the departure of head coach Rulani Mokwena, who had recruited the attacker to Tripoli in January on the back of his impressive spell at Wydad Athletic Club.
It is also said that MAS Fès have now identified Lorch as a priority target to bolster their forward line. The opportunity to return to Morocco—where he previously rediscovered his best form—combined with the draw of Champions League football, has put the reigning Botola Pro champions in pole position to secure Lorch’s signature.
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