Thabo Cele (born 15 January 1997) is a South African
footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...
who plays as a
midfielder
In the sport of association football, a midfielder takes an Glossary of association football terms#O, outfield position primarily in the middle of the pitch. Midfielders may play an exclusively defensive role, breaking up attacks, and are in t ...
for
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premiership. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Kings" or "Chiefs" in Zu ...
.
Career
Cele was born in
KwaMashu
KwaMashu is a township north of Durban, South Africa. The name honours Sir Marshall Campbell and means ''Place of Marshall''. KwaMashu is bordered by Newlands East to the south, Newlands West to the west, Ntuzuma to the north, Phoenix to the ...
.
In 2016, Cele signed for Portuguese third division side Real S.C. from the KZN Academy in South Africa.
In 2017, he signed for S.L. Benfica, Portugal's most successful club, before returning to Real S.C. on loan.
In 2018, he signed for
Cova da Piedade
Cova da Piedade () is a former civil parish in the municipality of Almada, Lisbon metropolitan area, Portugal. In 2013, the parish merged into the new parish Almada, Cova da Piedade, Pragal e Cacilhas. The population in 2011 was 19,904, in an ar ...
in the Portuguese second division.
On 12 October 2021, after training with the team since September, he joined Polish side
Radomiak Radom
Radomiak Spółka Akcyjna (''Radomiak S.A.''), commonly known as Radomiak Radom, is a Polish football club based in Radom, Poland. The club was founded in 1910 and competes in Ekstraklasa, the top level of Polish football. They play their home ma ...
on a two-year deal.
On 16 August 2023, Cele was transferred to
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League (RPL; , ''Rossiyskaya premyer-liga''; РПЛ), also written as Russian Premier Liga, is a professional association football league in Russia and the highest level of the Russian football league system. It was establis ...
club
Fakel Voronezh
FC Fakel Voronezh () is a Russian professional football club based in Voronezh. Founded in 1947, the club has played in the Soviet Top League and the Russian Premier League. The club will return to the Russian First League in the 2025–26 season ...
. In January 2025, Cele left Fakel by mutual consent.
On 27 January 2025, Cele signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with
Kaizer Chiefs
Kaizer Chiefs Football Club (often known as Chiefs) is a South African professional football club based in Naturena, Johannesburg South, that plays in the Premiership. The team is nicknamed ''AmaKhosi'', which means "Kings" or "Chiefs" in Zu ...
.
Career statistics
Club
References
External links
*
*
1997 births
Living people
South African men's soccer players
Men's association football midfielders
C.D. Cova da Piedade players
Real S.C. players
S.L. Benfica footballers
Radomiak Radom players
FC Fakel Voronezh players
Kaizer Chiefs F.C. players
Liga Portugal 2 players
Ekstraklasa players
Russian Premier League players
South African expatriate men's soccer players
Expatriate men's footballers in Portugal
South African expatriate sportspeople in Portugal
Expatriate men's footballers in Poland
South African expatriate sportspeople in Poland
Expatriate men's footballers in Russia
South African expatriate sportspeople in Russia
Footballers at the 2020 Summer Olympics
Olympic soccer players for South Africa
21st-century South African sportsmen
People from KwaMashu
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