Al-Ittihad Club has officially announced the signing of the South African duo, Thembinkosi Lorch and Burkinabè player Stéphane Aziz Ki, who are arriving from the Moroccan club Wydad Athletic Club.
The deal for the duo Lorch and Aziz Ki is among the first signings made by Al-Ittihad Club’s board of directors during the winter transfer window, as the club’s management seeks to address the team’s shortcomings with distinguished players, hoping for the team’s return to the podium for titles during the current season.
Al-Ittihad Club
Al-Ittihad Club is a major professional football club based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, founded in 1927. It is one of the most successful clubs in Saudi and Asian football history, having won numerous domestic league titles and AFC Champions League trophies. The club’s history is deeply intertwined with the development of modern sports culture in the Kingdom.
South African
South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, known for its diverse cultures, languages, and complex history of colonialism and apartheid. Its modern history is profoundly shaped by the institutionalized racial segregation of apartheid, which ended in 1994 with the country’s first democratic elections and the presidency of Nelson Mandela.
Thembinkosi Lorch
Thembinkosi Lorch is a professional South African footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger, most notably for Orlando Pirates in the Premier Soccer League. He gained significant national recognition after scoring the winning goal for South Africa in their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final victory over hosts Egypt.
Burkinabè
“Burkinabè” refers to the people and culture of Burkina Faso, a landlocked West African nation. The term emerged after the country’s 1984 renaming from Upper Volta, with “Burkinabè” intentionally incorporating roots from the nation’s major languages to symbolize unity. It reflects a history of diverse ethnic groups and a modern national identity shaped by anti-colonial movements and political changes.
Stéphane Aziz Ki
Stéphane Aziz Ki is a contemporary Ivorian artist known for his vibrant, large-scale paintings that explore themes of identity, migration, and African heritage. His work, which gained significant international recognition in the 2010s, often incorporates symbolic patterns and figures to comment on social and political narratives.
Moroccan
Morocco is a North African country with a rich cultural heritage shaped by indigenous Amazigh (Berber), Arab, Islamic, and European influences. Historically, it has been home to powerful dynasties like the Almoravids and Almohads, and its famous sites include the ancient city of Fez, the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, and the historic ksar of Ait Benhaddou.
Wydad Athletic Club
Wydad Athletic Club is a major Moroccan multisport club founded in 1937 in Casablanca, initially as a swimming and water polo club. It is best known for its highly successful football division, which has won numerous domestic and continental titles, including the CAF Champions League. The club holds deep historical significance as a symbol of national identity and resistance during the French protectorate era in Morocco.
