Sabelo Radebe: Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder trains with second-tier Leicesterford City in bid to revive career

Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Sabelo Radebe is training with Motsepe Foundation Championship side Leicesterford City FC as he attempts to secure a contract before the new season kicks off.

The 24-year-old playmaker, once viewed as a bright prospect at Soweto giants Chiefs, is among a group of players currently on trial with the KwaZulu-Natal club as they look to strengthen their squad for a promotion push from South Africa’s second tier.

Leicesterford City chief executive Bongani Khuluse confirmed Radebe’s presence in the camp but stressed that no deals had yet been concluded.

“We are busy with a few administrative issues that we are still sorting out. There are players who have been training with us, but nothing has been finalised yet,” Khuluse confirmed.

Leicesterford weigh up options as trials continue

Radebe recently left Lerumo Lions and is now hoping to convince Leicesterford’s technical team that he can play a key role in their 2026-27 campaign. The club finished 12th in the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season and are targeting significant improvement as they chase promotion to the Betway Premiership.

Khuluse said that discussions with the head coach would determine which of the current trialists are offered contracts.

“There are a lot of players still on trial – even Sabelo Radebe has been training with us. So let’s wait and see what happens, because, as I said, nothing has been finalised just yet,” Khuluse told Soccer Laduma.

The club’s decision-making process has been slowed by what Khuluse described as “administrative issues”, but Leicesterford are expected to finalise their squad in the coming weeks as the new season approaches.

From Chiefs prospect to proving himself in the second tier

Radebe emerged from Kaizer Chiefs’ development ranks and broke into the first team with expectations that he could become a regular at Naturena. However, his progress stalled amid limited game time and increased competition for places in midfield.

His move away from Chiefs earlier in his career was publicly backed by veteran goalkeeper and club legend Itumeleng Khune, who argued that Radebe needed to leave to play more regularly and further his development.

Check Out: Khune: Radebe Made The Right Decision To Leave Chiefs

Radebe’s subsequent spell at Lerumo Lions has now been followed by his latest attempt to re-establish himself at a higher level with Leicesterford City.

Promotion ambition drives Leicesterford rebuild

Leicesterford City are using the off-season to overhaul their squad after a mid-table finish that left them well short of the promotion places. The club’s hierarchy is understood to be targeting a more competitive campaign, with the Betway Premiership firmly in their sights.

Bringing in players with top-flight experience, such as Radebe, is seen as a way to add quality and know-how to a squad that must compete over a demanding league season.

Should Radebe secure a contract, the move would offer him a platform to relaunch his career and potentially work his way back to the Premiership. For Leicesterford, successfully integrating a player with Chiefs pedigree could strengthen both their promotion hopes and their profile in South African football.

For now, though, both club and player remain in a holding pattern, with Radebe’s future dependent on whether he can convince Leicesterford’s coaching staff that he is worth a long-term deal.