Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has revealed why he’s concerned about Thabo Cele despite the player fitting in very well at Amakhosi.
The KwaMashu-born midfielder recently finalised his move to Amakhosi during the January transfer window, joining on a free transfer following his departure from Russian club Fakel Voronezh.
The 28-year-old has demonstrated an immediate impact, effectively strengthening the team’s midfield under the guidance of coach Nasreddine Nabi.
Despite having featured in only seven matches across all competitions, Cele's presence has already been demonstrably felt, with noticeable improvements in Chiefs' midfield performance.
However, Khanye expresses concern for Cele, believing his teammates aren't at his level. He feels the pressure on the KZN Academy graduate could negatively impact his performance as time goes.
KHANYE FEELS CHIEFS’ MASSIVE BURDEN COULD AFFECT CELE
“For me, he (Cele) has fitted in like a glove although I am concerned about the players around him,” Khanye told Soccer Laduma.
“There is no doubt that the boy is a good player and was properly developed. He played at the Stars of Africa Academy and KZN Academy, and he has been playing overseas for the better part of his professional career. He is a South African international and there is no doubt about his quality.
“But we have seen players join Chiefs before while on top of their game, but they failed to deliver according to the expectations. It depends on who is coaching these players.
“In my opinion, Chiefs get it wrong with the appointment of coaches, because most of the time the coaches they have had fail to make the best out of the players signed by the club. The culture of the team has been lost.
“Back to Cele and his quality, that's indisputable, but who is he playing with in this current Chiefs team? Technically, the boy is very good, and I have always known this about him having followed him while playing for the junior national teams.
“After he joined Chiefs, I just needed to see if he would be able to show the class he has always showed elsewhere, and I have been convinced that he has, and he has added value to the club.
“All in all, Thabo Cele has fitted in well at Chiefs and is doing well, but unfortunately, I don't think he is playing under a coach who believes in ball-playing players in (Nasreddine) Nabi. For me, Cele should at least make the preliminary squad for Bafana Bafana (for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers).”
