Thabo Cele delivers verdict on Chiefs’ new signings

Thabo Cele with his Kaizer Chiefs teammates

Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele has given his verdict on the club’s new signings for the 2025/26 season, as Amakhosi aim to reclaim their former glory.

Seeking to reignite their glory days, the Glamour Boys have been proactive in the transfer market, significantly bolstering their squad with new talent for the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.

Their recent pre-season tour in the Netherlands provided a crucial opportunity for head coach Nasreddine Nabi to sharpen tactics and refine team combinations. The Soweto giants engaged in several competitive training matches against top Dutch sides, laying the groundwork for what promises to be an intriguing season.

Last season saw Chiefs endure an inconsistent run, ultimately finishing ninth on the league table with 32 points from 28 matches. However, they ended a significant 10-year trophy drought by clinching the 2025 Nedbank Cup, securing a thrilling 2-1 victory over rivals Orlando Pirates in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in May.

Building on this crucial Nedbank Cup success, the Naturena-based side has since entered the market to secure key player acquisitions.

Chiefs captured the signatures of Thabiso Monyane, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Paseka Mako, Nkanyiso Shinga, Flavio Silva, and Ethan Chislett.

Thabo Cele with Kaizer Chiefs
Thabo Cele. Picture courtesy of Kaizer Chiefs/X

WHAT THABO CELE ABOUT CHIEFS’ NEW PLAYERS

The new players are expected to hit the ground running and deliver positive results for the club in the upcoming season. Having spent a few weeks at Chiefs already, Cele says the club made quality signings, and they are going to play a big part.

“It was important for the new guys to come in, and we know that they are quality. They’re going to add value to our team, and we need them,” said Cele.

“So, seeing what I’ve seen in training, I feel like they also understand the mission at hand. We’ve been gelling together beautifully, and there’s positivity around the team, and not fake positivity, it’s real.

“In the Netherlands, we played some difficult games, and we got tested. I feel like in those tests we became close, so we’ve spoken amongst ourselves and we know the missions for the next season.”

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