Chiefs Face Competition For Cele Signature

AmaZulu are set to tussle with Kaizer Chiefs over the signature of Bafana Bafana midfielder Thabo Cele.

Usuthu recently went toe to toe with Chiefs over the signature of Rowan Human from Maritzburg United.

But Usuthu won the race and the attacker will be unveiled in the next coming days before they can launch their new season against Royal AM at Harry Gwala Stadium on Saturday.

Cele is currently in Durban, weighing up his options after his exertion in the COSAFA Cup squad that won the bronze a few weeks ago.

iDiski Times understands his deal in Poland expires on 1 August, and he made it clear then that he won’t have an issue to be playing in the PSL for the first time in his career, having left SA shores at the age of 19 in 2016.

In 2017, he was signed from Real Sport Clube – the third tier club he joined from KZN Academy – for the Benfica B team in the second-tier after joining the agency of super agent Jorge Mendes.  

He seemed to be destined to be top talent coming from South Africa, but has unfortunately not lived up to those early promises so far, even though he commands the central midfield well by breaking the play, while also being a good passer of the ball. 

The 26-year-old, before he was signed by Polish side in 2021, was heavily linked to Chiefs and then Amakhosi coach Stuart Baxter was keen to add him, having witnessed him closer in the COSAFA Cup when he was the Bafana Bafana coach.  

But the move never materialised and Cele went to Radomiak instead, with Chiefs now again understood to be keen on adding him.

Cele has played for Real SC twice, Benfica juniors, Cova Piedade – all in Portugal, and spent two seasons now in Poland with Radomiak Radom.

Story by Robin-Duke Madlala (@duke_robin).