Thabo Cele’s Russia exit opens door for Chiefs
Thabo Cele’s sudden exit from Russian club FC Fakel Voronezh could open the door for Kaizer Chiefs with a few days before the January transfer window closes.
The talented midfielder has been released by his Russian Premier League side. Part of the conditions are that he will have to play for a South African club until the end of his contract.
Cele would have been out of contract in June 2025, allowing him to leave for free. However, a health-related pressing family matter has forced the former South Africa youth international to return home early.
In a statement posted by the club on its website on Wednesday, Fakel announced that “due to serious health problems in the family, the midfielder and the club agreed to terminate the contract”.
The statement further says the agreement with the Durban-born star was that “he can only play for teams from South Africa until the end of the contract”.
Cele has reportedly attracted interest from overseas. But the agreement binds him, meaning he can only ply his trade in the Betway Premiership until June 2025. The club took this action to ensure they do not lose him, supposedly due to a sick relative back home, only for him to join another European club for free.
COULD THIS BE A CHANCE FOR KAIZER CHIEFS?
The situation presents an opportunity for Amakhosi to snap up the 28-year-old midfielder. The club has previously been linked with the defensive midfielder several times.
With his exceptional abilities, Cele will undoubtedly not lack for offers. Renowned for his composure in central midfield, he excels at disrupting play and circulating the ball effectively. He can play as a six, an eight, or in the ten role.
The multi-functional midfielder’s European journey began in 2016. At 19, he moved to Real Sport Clube in Portugal’s third tier. He quickly attracted the attention of Benfica B, joining their ranks in 2017 under the guidance of renowned super-agent Jorge Mendes.
After his time in Portugal, he moved to Radomiak Radom in Poland in 2021 before a switch to Russia. He has made 19 appearances this season, mostly as a defensive midfielder, contributing two assists in the process.
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