Thabo Cele training alone after being left out of Kaizer Chiefs plans

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele is training on his own after head coach Fernando da Cruz confirmed that the 29-year-old does not feature in his plans for the 2026/27 season.

Da Cruz made the announcement during his first media engagement since Chiefs returned from their pre-season training camp in Spain.

“For Thabo Cele, we have a lot of players in his position and I prefer other profiles and for the moment he is not in my plans for the season,” Da Cruz said.

Cele was not included in the squad for the camp in Spain and has not been reintegrated into the group at the Naturena village, according to information obtained by KickOff. He still has two years remaining on his Kaizer Chiefs contract.

The midfielder joined Chiefs in January 2025 from Russian club Fakel Voronezh but has struggled to secure a regular place in the team. He has made 36 appearances across one-and-a-half seasons with the club.

His latest setback follows previous periods out of favour at Amakhosi. Cele was sidelined for a spell by former co-coaches Khalil Ben Youssef and Cedric Kaze before an injury midway through last season further disrupted his progress.

That injury kept him out of several matches after the league resumed in late January.

There are currently no official offers for the KwaMashu-born player, sources have told KickOff. However, his representatives have been given permission to explore possible opportunities and are using the situation to identify a suitable move for the midfielder.

Cele’s camp is not expected to accept just any proposal. The player is understood to be on a lucrative contract at Naturena, meaning a sufficiently attractive opportunity would be required for him to leave Kaizer Chiefs despite his absence from Da Cruz’s plans.

For now, the player remains contracted to the club but is working separately from the first-team squad. His future is therefore likely to depend on whether his representatives can secure a move that satisfies both the player and his current club.

Cele’s lack of involvement comes after he had already found it difficult to establish himself since arriving from Fakel Voronezh. His 36 appearances have not translated into a settled role, and the latest decision by Da Cruz leaves him facing another period of uncertainty at Amakhosi.

The developments follow Da Cruz’s clear indication that he prefers other profiles in Cele’s position as Chiefs prepare for the 2026/27 campaign.