Mamelodi Sundowns star Thembinkosi Lorch received social media backlash after celebrating former coach Rulani Mokwena’s 38th birthday with an old photo in Orlando Pirates colours.
THEMBINKOSI LORCH CELEBRATES MOKWENA’S BIRTHDAY WITH A THROWBACK PHOTO
The celebrated South African coach recently turned a year old, and several stars quickly flooded their social media feeds with warm birthday wishes.
However, one of the notable players was Thembinkosi Lorch, who is said to be one of Rulani’s favourite players.
Taking it to Instagram, Thembinkosi Lorch shared a photo with Rulani Mokwena during his days with the Soweto giants Orlando Pirates.
In the now-viral photo, the two shared a bear hug, with Thembinkosi Lorch donning the famous Orlando Pirates jersey while Rulani wore a red and black tracksuit.
He captioned the now-viral photo, “Happy Birthday Ngwenya.” Thanks to his huge social media following, the post has gained thousands of comments and reactions since it dropped online.
MAMELODI SUNDOWNS ONLINE BRANCH REACTS
Mamelodi Sundowns fans were quick to take a swipe at Thembinkosi Lorch for using his photo with Mokwena while at Orlando Pirates, not Mamelodi Sundowns.
One of Mamelodi Sundowns’ popular fan branches, Sundowns Online Branch, has since released a statement concerning the now-viral photo.
The branch wants the former Orlando Pirates star to be punished for showing disloyalty.
Part of the statement from the open letter shared online reads: “This alone clearly indicates Lorch’s intentions regarding his relationship with our team, the team that took him out of poverty at Orlando Pirates and made him the millionaire he is today.”
The other part of the post reads, “We call upon our technical team to see this as a red flag, especially considering that this season, Orlando Pirates seem to be serious about competing for the league title.
“We cannot rely on a player that appears to be longing for his ‘R50k’ salary while currently earning far more on bonuses alone.”
However, not only fans from the branch have aired their disappointment online. Others accused the former Orlando Pirates star of disrespect and said Sundowns should address the issue.
Other football fans found nothing wrong with his post. Thembinkosi Lorch joins a host of footballers who are criticised for posting or celebrating their previous club’s success after joining rivals.
STRUGGLING WITH GAME TIME
Thembinkosi Lorch joined Mamelodi Sundowns from Orlando Pirates. However, he has struggled with game time, and his stint hasn’t been as colourful as many hoped for.
While still at Sundowns, Mokwena defended the star and praised him for being one of the best in the country despite not being in form.
Thembinkosi Lorch’s career might be at a crossroads at Mamelodi Sundowns, but the winger still maintains a close relationship with Mokwena.
ARE YOU A FAN OF THEMBINKOSI LORCH?
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