Thuso Phala backs Kaizer Chiefs decision to release Thabo Cele

Thuso Phala believes Kaizer Chiefs were right to part company with Thabo Cele and says the club need players capable of deciding matches as they deal with a growing injury list.

Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz confirmed on Monday that Lebohang Maboe, Siphesihle Ndlovu and Adolf Bitegeko would miss the Betway Premiership meeting with Stellenbosch. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen is also unavailable.

The absences have led some Amakhosi supporters to question the decision to release Cele, who had been sidelined by Da Cruz since the coach arrived at the start of the season. The midfielder and the club ultimately agreed to end his contract by mutual consent.

Cele, formerly of Fakel Voronezh, was quickly signed by Mamelodi Sundowns. The 29-year-old has already helped the club win the FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup and the MTN8.

Phala, however, does not think Chiefs are suffering because Cele is no longer at the club.

“Personally I don’t think we’ll miss him that much, he was not a player to win games for Kaizer Chiefs,” the former SuperSport United attacker said on the omniaudioafrica YouTube Channel.

He described Cele as a midfielder who could control the rhythm of a game, but said Chiefs required a different profile as they attempt to improve their results.

“And I feel like Chiefs are at a point where they need someone who will carry the team and win them games and I don’t think Cele was that type of a player,” Phala added.

Phala urges Chiefs to trust their younger players

Phala believes moving to Mamelodi Sundowns has given Cele the ideal platform to compete alongside established match-winners, while Chiefs continue to develop a new group of younger players.

“So him going to Mamelodi Sundowns, where you have match winners around you, he went there at the right time. It brought an opportunity for him to win those two medals, congrats to him,” he said.

“But Chiefs moving forward I think we’re building something new with the youngsters. Unfortunately it’s the injuries that are against us. If you’re a Chiefs player and called up you have to show up.”

Although he expects Cele to continue collecting honours at Sundowns, Phala said Chiefs remain focused on ending the season with a trophy of their own.

“Cele is gone but I don’t think we’ll miss him. He will win things at Sundowns obviously, as coach Pitso said, ‘If you want to win trophies you go to Sundowns’ but Chiefs is also on a quest to win something this season,” the former Bafana Bafana winger said.