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

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz has confirmed that midfielder Thabo Cele does not feature in his plans for the 2026-27 season, paving the way for a likely exit from the club.

Cele, who arrived at the Soweto giants from Russian side Fakel Voronezh in 2025, made 29 appearances in all competitions during the 2024-25 campaign as Chiefs ended a 10-year trophy drought by winning the Nedbank Cup.

However, injuries disrupted his most recent season and restricted the KwaZulu-Natal-born player to just 21 matches across all competitions.

‘He’s not in my plans’

Speaking at a Toyota Cup press conference on Friday, Da Cruz was explicit about Cele’s situation and the depth he currently has in the midfielder’s position.

“For Thabo Cele, I’ve got lot of players in Thabo Cele’s position,” said Da Cruz.

“I prefer a different type of players in his position and he’s not in my plans for this season. So, the preference is on all the other profiles, so for the moment he is not in the plan.”

The comments amount to a clear indication that Cele is unlikely to play a significant role, if any, under Da Cruz in the upcoming campaign, despite having been part of the squad that helped secure major silverware just over a year ago.

Cele’s arrival from Fakel Voronezh had been seen as an important part of Chiefs’ rebuild, and his first full season coincided with the club lifting the Nedbank Cup and ending a decade-long wait for a trophy. But the combination of injuries and a change in coaching preferences now appears to have pushed him down the pecking order.

Focus shifts to Toyota Cup

Da Cruz is currently concentrating on preparing his squad for their next assignment, the Toyota Cup clash against Scottland FC. The match will take place at the Royal Sports Complex on Sunday, 26 July.

The fixture offers the coach another opportunity to work with the players he believes best fit his tactical approach for the new season, while the future of those not in his plans, such as Cele, remains uncertain.

While Chiefs have not made any official announcement regarding a transfer or contract decision for Cele, Da Cruz’s remarks strongly suggest that the 27-year-old midfielder will need to seek regular football away from Naturena if he is to play consistently in 2026-27.

Cele’s situation will likely be watched closely by clubs in search of an experienced midfielder who has both domestic cup-winning experience and a background in European football from his time with Fakel Voronezh.

For now, though, Kaizer Chiefs move forward under Da Cruz with a reshaped midfield hierarchy, as the coach looks to impose his preferred “profiles” of player and build on the Nedbank Cup success that marked the end of the club’s long wait for silverware.