What Rulani Mokwena and Ronwen Williams Told Thembinkosi Lorch Before His Mamelodi Sundowns Debut

• Thembinkosi Lorch finally made his debut for Mamelodi Sundowns
• The 30-year-old played just over an hour in the Orlando Pirates draw
• Lorch has disclosed what Rulani Mokwena and Ronwen Williams told him

Thembinkosi Lorch made his Mamelodi Sundowns debut on Saturday, February 17.

The forward played for around an hour against his former side but was not impressed by his performance.

Sundowns coach, Rulani Mokwena, and goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams, had a special message for the new signing before the game.

Lorch joined the defending DStv Premiership champions late last month after eight years with Pirates. Expectations were huge, but he didn't light up Loftus Versfeld Stadium.

He admitted his performances were not up to his own usual standards for a number of reasons, mainly playing against his former side, with the fans booing him during the game.

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"I didn’t have a good game, but it’s my first game. I need to go back and do the corrections and see where it went wrong," he said via iDiski Times.

"We should’ve won this game. I was not expecting it to be easy because I was playing against my former team, you heard the supporters booing me. I just need to improve on my next performance."

The 30-year-old then disclosed the message Mokwena and Williams gave him before his debut.

"What Ronwen said gave me so much motivation, it gave me the assurance that the guys are fully behind me, and I must play a normal game. The coach told me not to put myself under pressure and just play my normal game."

Most of the Sundowns players are still recovering following a tough Africa Cup of Nations campaign with South Africa. Bafana Bafana finished third in the competition, per SuperSport.

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Mokwena hails Pirates over Lorch

Sports Brief has also reported that Mokwena showered praise on Orlando Pirates over the signing of the Lorch during the winter transfer window.

The South African midfielder made a deadline-day move to the DStv Premiership champions, with the move catching many local fans by surprise.

Thembinkosi Lorch's message to Mamelodi Sundowns

Sport Brief previously reported when Lorch penned a message to Sundowns supporters after his blockbuster move from Orlando Pirates.

He was one of the four players signed by the club in January, along with Zuko Mdunyelwa, Matias Esquivel, and Tashreeq Matthews.