Rulani Mokwena advises Thembinkosi Lorch to be 'impossible to ignore'

MC Alger head coach Rulani Mokwena has added his voice to the debate surrounding Thembinkosi Lorch’s continued absence from the Bafana Bafana squad, saying the Wydad Casablanca attacker must stay patient and let his performances speak for him.

Lorch has become one of the most talked-about South African footballers of the season after rediscovering his best form in Morocco.

The 32-year-old has impressed since joining Wydad AC permanently from Mamelodi Sundowns, bringing stability back to a career that had stalled due to limited game time in Tshwane.

Before his permanent switch, Lorch spent the second half of last season on loan at Wydad under Mokwena, who had brought him to Chloorkop from Orlando Pirates.

It was during that spell that he delivered memorable performances at the FIFA Club World Cup, standing out against giants such as Manchester City and Juventus.

This campaign, Lorch has taken that momentum into the Botola Pro 1, scoring five goals and registering three assists in nine appearances across all competitions. His form has intensified calls for his inclusion in Hugo Broos’ latest Bafana squad ahead of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco.

But Broos again overlooked Lorch, suggesting the attacker’s age was a contributing factor. It is a position that has triggered debate, particularly given Lorch’s consistency, professionalism and influence at Wydad.

Mokwena believes Lorch should take encouragement from the journey of Themba Zwane, who faced similar national-team rejection before eventually winning Broos over.

“For Lorch, he just needs to look at Themba Zwane as a source of inspiration. Themba Zwane was in the same position,” Mokwena told SAFJA journalists on Wednesday.

He explained that Zwane had also been sidelined by Broos earlier in the Belgian’s tenure, with the coach at the time pointing to the midfielder’s age. Zwane stayed patient, elevated his game, and eventually forced the national team door open.

“I remember saying to ‘Mshishi’ that; ‘you have to be so good that it’s difficult to ignore you’. And that’s exactly what he did,” Mokwena said.

“Zwane was so good that even though the coach [Broos] at the time didn’t want him for reasons that we have to respect, and also to the credit of Hugo Broos, he mentioned that it was one of the things he got wrong.”

Broos famously conceded his mistake, saying “a wise man changes his mind” when Zwane’s form demanded selection.

Mokwena believes the same scenario could unfold for Lorch if his performances continue at this level.

“That means if he can rescind his opinion on Themba Zwane, I’m sure if Lorch continues this way [he will get a call up], I’m hearing good things about him from the Wydad president [Hicham Ait Menna] about his conduct, professionalism, and his performances.”

Lorch’s exclusion will remain a talking point, but Mokwena’s message is clear: consistency wins arguments, and sustained excellence forces every coach — even the stubborn ones — to rethink.