Cape Town - Orlando Pirates winger Thembinkosi Lorch has admitted he was expecting a call-up to the South African national team for the upcoming Four Nation tournament.
Lorch was included in Stuart Baxter's squad for the trip to Zambia despite having claimed he was not ready to play for the national team. However, he has now revealed he was, in fact, prepared for his inclusion, but did not want to discuss it while he focused on the Nedbank Cup last 16 clash with Cape Town City.
"To tell you about the call up, I was expecting it. Why I said I wasn’t expecting it is because I was focusing on the Nedbank Cup game, so I didn’t want to talk about it," he said, according to Kick Off.
"You can see now I’m starting to score, but I’ve been playing like this."
The 24-year-old has impressed this season for Orlando Pirates, scoring four goals in 17 league matches. The Buccaneers have enjoyed a successful season under new coach Milutin Sredojevic and sit just one point behind Premiership leaders Mamelodi Sundowns.
Lorch paid tribute to the Serb and his coaching staff's influence on a side which finished a lowly 11th last season, claiming: "I think now we are together as a team. The coaches brought that spirit in the team."
Bafana Bafana squad to play in 4-Nations tournament in Zambia:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Darren Keet (Bidvest Wits), Brandon Petersen (Ajax Cape Town)
Defenders: Reeve Frosler (Bidvest Wits), Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Daniel Cardoso (Kaizer Chiefs), Thulani Hlatshwayo, Buhle Mkhwanazi, Sifiso Hlanti (Bidvest Wits), Motjeka Madisha (Mamelodi Sundowns), Innocent Maela (Orlando Pirates)
Midfielders: Dean Furman, Teboho Mokoena, Aubrey Modiba (Supersport United), Themba Zwane, Sibusiso Vilakazi (Mamelodi Sundowns), Siphesihle Ndlovu (Maritzburg United), Kamohelo Mokotjo (Brentford FC), Bongani Zungu (Amiens), Thembinkosi Lorch (Orlando Pirates), Keagan Dolly (Montpellier), Phakamani Mahlambi (Al Ahly)
Strikers: Percy Tau (Mamelodi Sundowns), Lebo Mothiba (Lille), Ryan Moon (Kaizer Chiefs)