Orlando Pirates winger Vincent Pule believes that his teammate Thembinkosi Lorch deserves to be playing in Europe.

Lorch was named PSL Footballer of the Year and Players’ Player of the Season after playing an important role in helping Pirates finish second in the Absa Premiership during the 2018-19 campaign.

However, Lorch has recently been linked with a move to French Ligue 1 side Toulouse after impressing during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Egypt earlier this year.

Pule insists that the Buccaneers can’t afford to lose another player after goalkeeper Brilliant Khuwayo was forced to retire from professional football due to a recurring ankle injury.

‘For me, I think if we lose him – like we lost Khuzwayo to retirement – we would have lost not just a player, but a brother,’ Pule told the media.

‘But, for him personally, it will be something great for him to go overseas.

‘As a team, we have to start playing for the team and playing like a team. Individually these things happen that you’re going to outclass some others.’

Pule has urged his teammates need to do more to assist Lorch during the new season.

‘I think he’s done fantastically well; he was unbelievable last season – pressing, scoring goals and assisting – he was just unbelievable,’ he added.

‘Even we were doing that, but we were not doing enough. I think this season we have to do better to help him and to carry the team.’