The rise and fall of Lorch

The most recent headlines made by Thembinkosi Lorch had nothing to do with his ability to play football after he was suspended by Orlando Pirates for breaching protocol in the biobubble, before allegations of assault were levelled against him following a domestic dispute at the tail end of a difficult season.

From the highs that he reached in the 2018/19 campaign, when he was crowned Footballer of the Season, his performances plummeted, so much so that he only managed to score a single league goal in 22 appearances.

He netted two goals in cup competitions as well, but never found the level he had reached the season before as he cut a disconsolate figure for much of the campaign.

Last season he scored 15 goals and made six assists as Orlando Pirates challenged for the league, eventually finishes as runnersup. So how did someone who had been the best player in the league the previous term