Thabo Cele

Thabo Cele (born 15 January 1997) is a South African footballer who plays as a midfielder for Kaizer Chiefs.

Thabo Cele

Cele with Fakel Voronezh in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-01-15) 15 January 1997 (age 28)
Place of birth	KwaMashu, South Africa
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Kaizer Chiefs
Number	21
Youth career
2012-2013	Kwamashu Arsenal
2014–2015	KwaMashu All Stars
2015–2016	KZN Football Academy
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Real	24	(2)
2017–2018	Benfica B	6	(0)
2018	→ Real (loan)	14	(1)
2018–2021	Cova da Piedade	70	(5)
2021–2023	Radomiak Radom	33	(0)
2023–2025	Fakel Voronezh	18	(0)
2025–	Kaizer Chiefs	16	(0)
International career‡
2017	South Africa U20	3	(0)
2019–2021	South Africa U23	6	(0)
2017–	South Africa	5	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 9 November 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19:55, 14 July 2023 (UTC)

Career

Cele was born in KwaMashu.^[1]

In 2016, Cele signed for Portuguese third division side Real S.C. from the KZN Academy in South Africa.^[2]

In 2017, he signed for S.L. Benfica, Portugal's most successful club, before returning to Real S.C. on loan.^{[citation needed]}

In 2018, he signed for Cova da Piedade in the Portuguese second division.^{[citation needed]}

On 12 October 2021, after training with the team since September, he joined Polish side Radomiak Radom on a two-year deal.^[3]

On 16 August 2023, Cele was transferred to Russian Premier League club Fakel Voronezh.^[4] In January 2025, Cele left Fakel by mutual consent.^[5]

On 27 January 2025, Cele signed a three-and-a-half-year contract with Kaizer Chiefs.^[6]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 9 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		League cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Real	2016–17	Campeonato de Portugal	24	2	4	1	0	0	—		—		28	3
Benfica B	2017–18	Liga Portugal 2	6	0	—		—		—		—		6	0
Real (loan)	2017–18	Liga Portugal 2	14	1	—		—		—		—		14	1
Cova da Piedade	2018–19	Liga Portugal 2	27	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	27	2
	2019–20	Liga Portugal 2	14	0	0	0	1	0	—		—		15	0
	2020–21	Liga Portugal 2	29	3	2	0	0	0	—		—		31	3
	Total		70	5	2	0	1	0	—		—		73	5
Radomiak Radom	2021–22	Ekstraklasa	13	0	—		—		—		—		13	0
	2022–23	Ekstraklasa	20	0	—		—		—		—		20	0
	Total		33	0	—		—		—		—		33	0
Fakel Voronezh	2023–24	Russian Premier League	9	0	4	0	—		—		—		13	0
	2024–25	Russian Premier League	9	0	5	0	—		—		—		14	0
	Total		18	0	9	0	—		—		—		27	0
Career total			165	8	15	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	181	9