Snl24 | Cele, Chiefs Latest

PIETERMARITZBURG, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 18: Brendon Thabo Moloisane of Stellenbosch FC and Sphiwe Cele of Royal AM during the DStv Premiership match between Royal AM and Stellenbosch FC at Harry Gwala Stadium on August 18, 2023 in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

Kaizer Chiefs are understood to have reignited their interest in Thabo Cele, a South African defensive midfielder currently playing for Russian club Fakel Voronezh, according to insiders privy to information.

Sources close to the club have indicated that Chiefs have been monitoring Cele for nearly three years and are now stepping up with a concerted effort to bring him back to South Africa.

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“They have been following him for almost three years now and the team’s scouts have been monitoring him and now he is back on Chiefs’ radar. Indications are that they have been talking to his representatives and the talks have been positive,” said the Siya source.

Despite the complexities surrounding a transfer fee and financial negotiations, Chiefs are keen on pushing ahead to secure Cele’s services. 

“He will be like a replacement for Siyethemba Sithebe in the defensive midfield position. So it’s a opportunity that could happen in this window period,” the source added.

Cele himself has expressed a desire to return to South Africa, although he has not specified a preferred club, according to a second insider.

“He has shown interest of coming back home. No one really knows which club he would want to join but at the moment it’s Chiefs who are interested in him and this could give them an advantage to sign him since they are the ones who have been showing interest in him and also inquired about him,” the second source told Soccer Laduma.

Cele’s contract with Fakel Voronezh runs until June 2025, which adds another layer to the transfer negotiations. As Chiefs look to bolster their squad for the upcoming season, securing a player of Cele’s calibre could be a step in the right direction.

As the transfer saga unfolds, Cele’s potential move to Amakhosi is one of the more intriguing developments of the transfer window, offering the Naturena-based side a chance to strengthen their midfield with a player who has plenty of experience abroad.

Soccer Laduma contacted Chiefs for comment but no response was received at the time this report was published.

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