Orlando Pirates reveal internal measures over Thembinkosi Lorch's assault case

Pirates earlier suspended Lorch in August, after he breached team protocols in the PSL bio-bubble at the time, before he pleaded guilty and returned a few weeks before his eventual arrest.

At the time, the club publicly acknowledged the legal proceedings against the 29-year-old but did not declare any sanctions pending the final outcome of the matter.

On Tuesday, 'Nyoso' was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend Fundiswa Mathithibala by the Randburg Magistrate's Court, with sentencing postponed to 28 July 2023, and the Buccaneers subsequently revealed the internal measures earlier taken.

"Orlando Pirates Football Club notes the decision handed down by the Randburg Magistrate Court regarding Mr Thembinkosi Lorch on Tuesday," read a club statement.

Therein, it was noted that Lorch pleaded guilty to the club's charges of "serious misconduct" and subsequently paid a "monetary fine".

The midfielder was also ordered to undergo "anger management therapy", which he then underwent through a diversion programme with the court, and the club ultimately accepted this instead of doubling up the same measure.

"The Club approved that he completes therapy with Dr Nkuna-Boikanyo instead of running a parallel process organised by the Club," noted the statement.

"Since then, Mr Lorch has not been involved any similar incident or an incident involving violence. We are confident that the anger management therapy were an appropriate corrective measure."

With the impending sentencing, Pirates have concluded that no further comments will be made until the final court outcome becomes available.

Should the sentence handed down include jail time, this would naturally have serious ramifications on Lorch's career not only at Pirates but also in professional football, and beyond.