Orlando Pirates legend Benedict Vilakazi has hit out at his former club saying they can’t be selling their best players to Mamelodi Sundowns if they are wanting to compete with them.
Vilikazi was speaking after the transfer of attacking midfielder Thembinkosi Lorch who used the transfer window to switch allegiances to the runaway league leaders after an eight-year stay at Pirates.
Lorch is the latest in a long line of stars who have made the move from Pirates to Chloorkop – others to have made the big-money switch include Gift Leremi, Lebohang Mokoena, Teko Modise and Oupa Manyisa.
Commenting on Lorch’s departure, Vilakazi told the Sowetan: “It’s a big loss for Pirates losing a key player like Lorch.
“Supporters and a lot of people are looking at the club to have quality players to challenge Sundowns for the league title.
“To lose a player like that to Sundowns is a blow in terms of how you can challenge them for the league. I mean he was a key player. But it didn’t come as a surprise.
“I played the game for a long time. I can see when a player wants to go. I’ve seen them while I was still playing when they want to go, how they behave, what they do and all of that. They end up leaving the team.
“I would say Lorch’s leaving was overdue. I thought he would go overseas from here, but nevertheless, he went to Sundowns.
“Hopefully, Pirates will find a replacement for the role Lorch played in the team.”
Asked how he thought Pirates would fill the void left by Lorch’s departure he said: “No one will replace another player in the team. You cannot replace star players. What you can do is to get the player that can play in the position that Lorch was playing and try to improve him.
“I think if they can give Lesedi Kapinga a chance, he can come in and make a difference.
“He is more of a smart player who can get into the box than can make runs wide. Giving him an opportunity will give him confidence because one thing about players is they cannot become bad players overnight.
“Just imagine what Kapinga will do when he has match fitness. We will see the best of him.”
