Thembinkosi Lorch has returned to Libya to resume pre-season preparations with Al Ittihad Tripoli, with the South African attacker set to remain at the club for now after a proposed move back to Morocco failed to materialise.
Al Ittihad officially began preparations for the 2026/27 season on Tuesday. Lorch travelled back to Libya and is expected to join his teammates on Wednesday as the club steps up its preparations for the new campaign.
The 33-year-old remains under contract with Al Ittihad until June 2027, and at this stage there is no agreement for him to leave the ambitious Libyan club. He had emerged as a target for Moroccan champions MAS Fes, who were keen to bring the former Wydad Athletic Club attacker back to the Botola Pro.
The Moroccan club recently signed the South African duo Tshegofatso Mabasa and Devin Titus. They were understood to be prepared to meet Al Ittihad’s demands for Lorch’s transfer. However, the proposed move stalled over the former Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns attacker’s personal terms.
FARPost understands that the salary offered by MAS Fes was significantly below what Lorch currently earns in Libya, with the difference understood to be close to double the amount the Moroccan club was prepared to pay. That gap proved too difficult to bridge, bringing the proposed move to a halt. As things stand, Lorch is therefore remaining at Al Ittihad Tripoli.
NO CHIEFS TALKS FOR LORCH
His name has also resurfaced in South African football circles amid speculation linking him to Kaizer Chiefs. The speculation followed his appearance with Amakhosi players at a recent Chiefs home game. However, there is no concrete transfer development involving the Soweto giants. FARPost understands that there have been no talks between Lorch and Chiefs, nor any negotiations between Chiefs and Al Ittihad over a potential transfer.
His return to the North African country comes as Al Ittihad begin preparations for what promises to be a different-looking Libyan Premier League campaign. The 2026/27 season is scheduled to get underway in October, with the league set to operate under a new format.
28 clubs are expected to be split into two groups of 14, with the top two teams from each group progressing to the semi-finals. The winners will then meet in the final to decide the league champion. Changes are also expected regarding the use of foreign players. Clubs are currently allowed to register seven foreign players, although a maximum of six can be on the pitch at any one time.
There has also been a proposal for a new Premier B league comprising exclusively local players and coaches. However, clubs could still push for changes to the foreign-player regulations, including a proposal to reduce the number of foreign players permitted.
AZIZ KI LEAVES ITTIHAD FOR YOUNG AFRICANS
The current registration window runs until October 6. Lorch’s situation also bears similarities to that of Stephane Aziz Ki, another former Wydad player who joined Al Ittihad but left the Libyan club after just six months.
Aziz Ki has returned to Young Africans in Tanzania in a deal understood to have cost the club around R5 million. MAS Fes reportedly considered a similar financial commitment for ‘Nyoso’, but the personal terms ultimately proved decisive.
At Yanga, the Burkinabe, Aziz Ki, will work with former Sundowns coach Manqoba Mngqithi. Mngqithi will welcome his arrival as the club allows Ugandan international Allan Okello to move to Botola Pro side AS FAR Rabat.
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