‘Even at Chiefs Cele deserved to play!’ Mokoena adamant Thabo ‘was doing well’ when Amakhosi signed him

Former Bafana Bafana star Teboho Mokoena is convinced former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele will have a positive impact at Mamelodi Sundowns.

The 29-year-old was released by the Soweto giants a couple of days ago after coach Fernando Da Cruz stated clearly that he is not in his plans. Miguel Cardoso felt he needed him and did not hesitate to have him at the club.

𝐓𝐇𝐀𝐁𝐎 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄 𝐉𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐘𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎𝐖 𝐅𝐀𝐌𝐈𝐋𝐘 💛

The Yellow Nation has a new face! Join us in welcoming Thabo Cele as the latest addition to Bafana Ba Style 🔥#Sundowns #WelcomeThabo pic.twitter.com/TbAXF17rHI

— Mamelodi Sundowns FC (@Masandawana) September 10, 2026

Mokoena has underlined Cele’s quality, insisting he deserved to play while with the Glamour Boys.

Cele is not a bad player

“In my opinion, Cele is not a bad player, firstly, and even at Chiefs he deserved to play. Somewhere, somehow, you don’t know why he was not playing or getting game time,” the ex-South Africa star told KickOff.

“Remember, when Chiefs signed this boy, he was playing, he was doing well, and then suddenly he did not play.

“The opportunity for Sundowns to sign him was there since they are lacking in central midfield when Teboho [Mokoena] is not there. He is capable of playing there. He is a good player; he can adapt anywhere, to any team.”

European experience will help

Cele has initially played in Europe for the likes of Real Massama, Radomiak Radom, Fakel Voronezh, among others, and Mokoena explains how that will positively impact Masandawana.

“Definitely (that will help). If you have quality teammates, you tend to be quality yourself; you improve because of the quality of the players who are there. You can’t look down on yourself.

“They will boost your confidence because Sundowns, at the moment, is the best team in South Africa, no matter what you can say, in terms of playing and many other things,” Mokoena concluded.