Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele says it’s important the squad develops depth as they aim to meet expectations of the club and its supporters to challenge for multiple honours this season.
Cele, 28, has become a central figure to the Chiefs midfield since joining the club on a free transfer after nine years in Europe where he represented the likes of Real SC, Benfica B, Cova Piedade, Radiomak Radom, and Fakel Voronezh.
He’s been partnered alongside Nkosingiphile Ngcobo and Sibongiseni Mthethwa in their opening two games, while Siphesihle Ndlovu, Samkelo Zwane, Ethan Chislett and George Matlou are also among the options in central midfield this season.
“I think in every position, if you look at it, it’s important to have competition, and it makes us better, if you look at our games, we have lots of games, so we need squad depth in every position,” Cele said.
“In midfield you can see there’s depth and competition which is healthy for the team, because we want to compete in every competition, for everything, and win games so it’s important for the squad to develop that depth.”
Having secured six points out of a possible six from their opening two league games, expectations have risen ahead of their next home fixture at FNB Stadium, where they host Richards Bay tomorrow evening at 19h30.
“Playing for this club, expectations are always there – and we here because we want to handle that expectations and feed people what they’re expecting, which is good results, like we started,” Cele said.
“But obviously not everything is perfect, we’re trying to improve in how we play, in how we create opportunities, in how, in previous games, we didn’t concede, in how we can maintain and improve on that.
“If you look at the Stellenbosch game, they created some opportunities, we’re trying to minimise teams creating those opportunities and us creating more opportunities.”
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