Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele appears increasingly likely to leave Naturena, with his future at the club hanging in the balance after being frozen out by new head coach Fernando Da Cruz.
The 29-year-old has yet to feature for Chiefs this season and was also left out of the club’s pre-season tour of Spain. Da Cruz has been clear about Cele’s situation, confirming that the midfielder is not part of his plans.
“I’ve got a lot of players in Thabo Cele’s position. I prefer a different type of player in his position and he’s not in my plans for this season,” Da Cruz said when asked about the player’s future.
Cele is yet to play for Kaizer Chiefs this season.
Amakhosi have plenty of competition in central midfield. The club added Adolf Mtasingwa during the off-season while retaining Sibongiseni Mthethwa. Siphesihle Ndlovu has also impressed in the middle of the park and was named Man of the Match against Mamelodi Sundowns.
Another player who appears to have taken Cele’s place in the pecking order is Lebohang Maboe. Since arriving at Naturena, the experienced midfielder has established himself as an important option in central midfield.
The talented midfielder signed for Chiefs from Russian side Fakel Voronezh in January 2025 and immediately became a fan favourite. The club confirmed at the time that he had signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with an option for an additional year.
Under Nasreddine Nabi, Cele was one of Kaizer Chiefs’ best players in the second half of the 2024/25 season.
However, his performances dipped last season and he increasingly found himself on the bench. Under Da Cruz, his situation has deteriorated further, with the coach making it clear that he prefers other profiles in midfield.
With the transfer window still open, a departure could now be on the cards if Chiefs can find a suitable solution for the midfielder.
For a player who arrived with plenty of excitement just 18 months ago, Cele’s rapid fall down the pecking order represents one of the more surprising developments at Kaizer Chiefs.
