Thabo Cele not in Kaizer Chiefs plans for 2026-27 season, confirms Fernando da Cruz

Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando da Cruz has confirmed that midfielder Thabo Cele does not feature in his plans for the 2026-27 campaign, leaving the 27-year-old facing the prospect of finding a new club despite being under contract at Naturena.

Cele, who joined Chiefs from Russian side Fakel Voronezh at the start of last year, is now behind several teammates in the midfield pecking order, according to Da Cruz.

“For Thabo Cele, there a lot of players in his position. So, the preference is on other profiles so at the moment he is not in the plans,” Da Cruz said, making clear the club’s stance on the South Africa international.

The decision effectively opens the door for Cele to move on, although he remains tied to Chiefs on a running contract and any switch would have to be negotiated while he is still formally on the club’s books.

Playing time has stalled

Cele initially enjoyed a promising start to life at Kaizer Chiefs following his arrival from Fakel Voronezh.

In his first six months at the club, the combative midfielder featured in 15 matches and missed only four during that period, suggesting he was quickly becoming a regular option in the side.

However, his role appeared to stall last season. Cele made 21 appearances across the campaign but was absent from just as many fixtures, underlining that he was no longer a consistent starter and was instead in and out of the matchday squad.

That pattern has now culminated in Da Cruz’s admission that he is looking to alternative profiles in Cele’s position as he shapes his squad for the forthcoming season.

Midfield competition and foreign quota context

Da Cruz pointed to intense competition in central areas as a key factor in the decision, with several players vying for places in positions similar to Cele’s.

While the coach did not list names, his comments came against a wider backdrop of squad planning at Kaizer Chiefs, including developments around the club’s foreign quota and overall balance of the squad.

Cele, who built a reputation as a hardworking, combative presence in midfield, now finds himself surplus to requirements in a department where Chiefs believe they have sufficient cover and alternative options more suited to Da Cruz’s preferred approach.

Future to be decided

With Chiefs making their position clear ahead of the 2026-27 season, Cele is expected to explore options elsewhere as he seeks regular football.

Any move will have to be agreed while his current deal with Kaizer Chiefs remains in place, meaning the club and player must now navigate the next steps in managing his exit.

For now, Da Cruz’s comments leave little doubt about Cele’s standing at Naturena: the midfielder is contracted to Kaizer Chiefs, but not part of the coach’s plans for the season to come.