Mamelodi Sundowns legend Joel "Fire" Masilela has condemned the recent behaviour of Thembinkosi Lorch, who was figuratively caught with his pants down in the aftermath of the team's DStv Premiership title celebrations.
A video of an inebriated Lorch circulated on social media, with the club revealing to the media on Thursday that the fan-favourite will not be part of the team to face Orlando Orlando Pirates in the Nedbank Cup final on Saturday due to "injury".
"Remember, there are rules and regulations. The Sundowns policy doesn't allow such behavior," noted Masilela, speaking to this website.
READ | RED FLAGS: More questions over Lorch absence raised
"I know because I've been there, and that policy has been there for decades. They don't allow a team member to go around doing social media videos that might reflect badly on the image of the club. They don't like it when players do something that dents the image of the club and sponsors.
"Remember, Mamelodi Sundowns is a very huge institution, so the Motsepes are against such things. That's something I know very well. The only thing they allow is for you to maybe do a TikTok video playing football with your kids and so on, something to do with sport. Then the club will not have a problem," adds the former explosive winger.
Masilela maintains Lorch should have thought more about the consequences of his actions before pressing reaching for his mobile phone in that instance, while also lamenting the timing of the incident.
"With the history of alcohol abuse in our football, you're still posting videos of yourself drunk? That's against the club's policy. Yes, we are all human beings and people make mistakes, but if you post such videos when the club is about to play a very important game such as the Nedbank Cup final against your former team Orlando Pirates, it's easy for people to assume you are doing it on purpose.
"Some of the Sundowns board members and people within the club's camp might take it like that.
"There are people who specifically bought Nedbank Cup final tickets because they want to see Lorch playing against his former club. Even the Pirates supporters. All those people have now been left disappointed.
"Looking at the way his move from Pirates to Sundowns happened, I think Lorch has let the club down, including Rulani [Mokwena].
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"I think Rulani played a big role by protecting him."
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