Latest news with #ThaboCele
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Chiefs midfielder desperate to play for Bafana
Cele was originally selected in the Bafana squad for this year's Cosafa Cup but was unable to make it due to injury. Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele says he is chomping at the bit to play for Bafana Bafana. Cele was originally selected in the Bafana squad for this year's Cosafa Cup but was unable to make it due to injury. ALSO READ: Ahly and Sundowns face defining World Club Cup campaigns 'Any opportunity I'm given to represent the country, I'd wake up even at 2 AM to play for the nation. But it's just that I've been struggling with an injury,' Cele told FarPost. Chiefs' Cele – 'I want to be part of that' 'I do watch Bafana games because it's football and I support the national team. I want to be part of that. When we grow up as young boys, we have dreams of representing the country. 'So, this is something I've been fighting for even with the Under-20s and U-23s. Even the soldiers, when they go to fight, wear a South African badge. So we want to be part of that. 'When I got that (COSAFA Cup) call-up, I was here in Durban, and instantly the doctor indicated that it was not possible (to join the team),' he added. Cele, 28, joined Chiefs in January and had a decent second half of the season with Amakhosi, who won the Nedbank Cup, but finished a disappointing tenth in the Betway Premiership. Bafana head coach Hugo Broos has previously indicated that he cannot select Chiefs players for the Bafana first team, because of the side's poor performances. 'I can't' 'For me, for the moment I can't select players from Kaizer Chiefs,' said Broos. ALSO READ: Sundowns set for tough CWC group stage 'I hope that they make a better season next year. Ok, they've won the Cup, but I think that was the only highlight in Chiefs' season. All the rest was not so good.'
IOL News
3 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Kaizer Chiefs may yet reap more rewards from Thabo Cele signing
Kaizer Chiefs star midfielder Thabo Cele is using his popularity gained with joining the Soweto giants to uplift his community. | BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix OUT of all the Premier Soccer League (PSL) 2024/2025 mid-season signings, Kaizer Chiefs arguably caught the biggest fish with the arrivals of Durban-born midfielder Thabo Cele and Congolese forward Makabi Lilepo. Both players were announced by the Naturena-based club at the end of January, along with Tashreeq Morris. Cele went on to play 11 league matches and Lilepo 14, but their biggest achievement of the season was helping their side win the Nedbank Cup – ending the 10-year trophy drought for the Soweto giants. 'My coming to Kaizer Chiefs was under one mission; that is to win trophies. We know that Kaizer Chiefs is the biggest club in the country. Even though we haven't been winning trophies, everyone knows that Chiefs is a team of trophies,' Cele remarked to the Durban media that attended the launch of his off-season youth games in his township of KwaMashu on Thursday. KWAMASHU'S FINEST: Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele and Thalente Mbatha in action in the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium. Image: Archived Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The Thabo Thalente Games, which the Chiefs midfielder started with his Orlando Pirates counterpart and neighbour (they both come from G-Section in KwaMashu) Thalente Mbatha, consist of four sporting codes; football as the flagship, followed by netball, chess and umlabalaba (Zulu board game). 'This programme is more about trying to assist in finding solutions for our society against the ills. As we start, not everything is clear, and we were not even sure of the right time, but as you can see, people are appreciating the initiative. The vision is to help the community, and especially the young ones, and goes beyond many generations,' said Cele. Explaining the reason to go beyond football with their initiative, he added: 'In KwaMashu, football is the number-one sport. 'As a matter of fact, football is number one in the whole world. So, we thought it would be beautiful to open it wider and accommodate other sporting codes. 'I find myself growing interested in more sporting codes; I find myself watching tennis and your Tour de France and so on. 'The aim is to bring people together, so we tried to include everyone. 'We want people to take the initiative and embrace this project as theirs. It belongs to them and their community. The growth of it is upon them.' Indeed, there may have been no better time for Cele and Mbatha to start something of this nature since the 2024/2025 season saw them grow their popularity and meet up in three Soweto derbies. Cele in particular has in the past four months of his life at Chiefs become probably the most popular figure in the dressing room with his coaches and teammates and fans alike. 'It's been a blessing (his Chiefs' life). I am someone who is spiritual, so I do understand that what has happened (for me) in the past six months is not only up to my strengths. It's been a blessing, and I'm grateful also for the people I work with,' said the midfielder. 'At Kaizer Chiefs, everyone (who works there) is involved: from the workers who cut the grass for us, the ladies who cook for us, all the way to office administrators. 'All of us contribute to the progress of the team. So yes, the past five to six months have been a blessing.' With Chiefs, though, there's an elephant in the room: the future of Tunisian coach Nasreddine Nabi. Immediately after winning the Nedbank Cup, there were reports that Nabi was going to be let go, and undertake the last season in his two-year contract. 'Things that are spoken outside are simply that, external matters. We focus on what we have to deal with, which is taking the club forward,' Cele responded when probed about the matter.
The South African
5 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder fights drug addiction
Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele is back in his home country after playing in Portugal, Poland and Russia in the past 10 years. Born in Kwa Mashu, Durban, 28 years ago, Cele moved to Amakhosi in January to earn his first experience of professional football in Mzansi's Betway Premiership. The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder says that during December, he discovered his peers had become victims of drug abuse. Cele has since established a programme he calls 'My Brother's Keeper' to rescue addicts. 'Being away, I couldn't do much. Last December, while I was home, I realised I didn't like what was happening in my community,' Cele told FARPost . 'More and more boys were falling into drugs, and I'd look at some of them and say 'you played football and now you're doing drugs…' New Kaizer Chiefs player signs until 2028 'We started engaging with the gents and recorded some of the sessions. We didn't post. With time, ideas came on how we could send the message across to try and help the gents. I thought, let's sit and speak to each other. The project is about trying to help the community. The Kaizer Chiefs midfielder added: 'These are gents I grew up with, so it's natural conversations that we have. I appreciate their energy and how they opened up.' 'I am making it my mission to find someone who can come and help us. I have my own idea – maybe someone who has a farm, takes them to work, and they are placed in a rehabilitation facility. There are many things we can do. Those chats are important as a starting point,' Cele added. Kaizer Chiefs to say goodbye to these five players Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs: New player undergoes assesment at Naturena
Kaizer Chiefs are planning ahead for next season right now. Kaizer Chiefs have identified SEVEN red-hot transfer targets including Bafana Bafana stars, players from PSL rivals and Orlando Pirates' targets. Meanwhile, Amakhosi management have invited a new star to undergo assessments at Naturena. ALSO READ: KAIZER CHIEFS AND ORLANDO PIRATES BID FOR THESE BAFANA STARS! – LATEST Chiefs have been spotted with a new face in training. Introducing defender, Mhleli Mabuza. He is the newest player spotted in training with Amakhosi. Moreover, he is currently undergoing assessments that will determine whether he is signed to Chiefs or not. He is currently being assessed as we speak (at the time of publication). 'Like one of (Chiefs') latest signings Thabo Cele, the 24-year-old is a product of the renowned KZN Academy and has spent the majority of his career in Portugal,' the insider stated on KickOff. 'He is currently a free agent, having not renewed his contract with Portuguese side outfit Louletano D.C in the Fourth Division of Portuguese football,' he added. Therefore, he is available to sign for Amakhosi. Meaning, Chiefs will recruit him if they are impressed with the results of the players Naturena assessments. ALSO READ – ORLANDO PIRATES: ALL FOUR DONE DEALS AHEAD OF THE 2025/26 SEASON Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Why this midfielder joined Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs star Thabo Cele has shared insights into his motivations and the factors influencing his decision to join Amakhosi. The 28-year-old midfielder joined Amakhosi in January as a free agent after leaving Russian side FC Fakel Voronezh. The new Kaizer Chiefs number 21 has explained that his decision to join Amakhosi was a strategic career move to advance his professional growth. The club's rich history and the opportunity it presents for players to develop and showcase their talents were key. 'Joining Kaizer Chiefs is a significant step in my career, offering me the platform to elevate my game and contribute to a team with such a storied legacy,' Cele said. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
