Former Kaizer Chiefs winger Junior Khanye has slammed the midfield combination of Sibongiseni ‘OX’ Mthethwa and Thabo Cele.
Mthethwa and Cele look set to be the central midfield combination for Chiefs next season following the departure of Yusuf Maart and Edson Castillo and coach Nasreddine Nabi has been testing them in pre-season.
The two started together in midfield during the Toyota Cup against Ghana giants Asante Kotoko on Saturday as Chiefs lost 3-2 on post-match penalties following a goalless draw in regulation time and their display did not rub off well on Khanye.
Will Chiefs struggle with ‘Ox’ and Cele in midfield?
The former Chiefs star feels Amakhosi will have problems if they go into the new season with those two as their main options in central midfield as they lack the quality and character to succeed in that position.
“The No.6 is a very big concern for me. Mthethwa that is playing there and Cele for me, you need a strong character in order to be a good player for Chiefs,” Khanye said on iDiski TV.
“Talent only is not good enough for me. To be honest, Cele and Mthethwa I don’t think there is a combination and if you do not have two or three midfielders, I do not think they click, it is like playing with five centre-backs in your back four with Mthethwa.”
Khanye slams Chiefs for snubbing Sipho Mbule
He then went on about what he feels are the shortcomings of the two midfielders, explaining why he believes Chiefs made a mistake by not signing Sipho Mbule, who joined Orlando Pirates.
“Mthethwa is not comfortable on the ball, he is not going to call for the ball, no awareness, technically for me he is poor. Cele, I don’t think he can play in tight spaces, he looks like a good player, but he is not like Mbule,” added Khanye.
“They need a good no.6, a holding midfielder, a talented player who has a strong character like Pirates signed Mbule. I believe Chiefs should have signed Mbule.”
Mthethwa and Cele will be highly scrutinised when the season starts although it is not known if Chiefs are working to bring in more in that position as they have so far added just one central midfielder in Siphesihle Ndlovu.
