Cele Excluded from Amakhosi's Pre-Season Tour

Kaizer Chiefs’ new era under Fernando Da Cruz has begun with a jolt for one of their headline names, as midfielder Cele finds himself on the outside looking in.

The 28-year-old was a conspicuous absentee from the Amakhosi squad that flew out to Spain for their pre-season tour, despite having been involved throughout the club’s preparations for the 2026/27 campaign. He had every reason to expect a seat on that plane. Instead, word of his exclusion reached him only shortly before the team’s departure.

For a player whose return to the Premier Soccer League was billed as a marquee moment, the timing and manner of the decision cut sharply. Chiefs had chased him across several transfer windows before finally landing him in January last year, bringing home a midfielder who had spent much of his professional career abroad. His signing carried the weight of a long-term project, a symbol of ambition at Naturena.

Now that project is under review.

Behind the scenes, sensitive talks are unfolding over a possible settlement that would allow both parties to part ways before the end of his contract. Cele still has two years left on his deal, a significant commitment on paper, and any early exit comes with financial and footballing implications that neither side can take lightly.

The club is not limiting itself to one path. Chiefs are also weighing up alternatives: a loan move to get him minutes elsewhere, or a permanent transfer if the right offer lands on the table. Any such move, though, must tick every box — for the player, for the club, and for any potential suitor — before it can be signed off.

Cele, for his part, is not prepared to walk away at any cost. Should negotiations fail to reach an agreement that he deems fair, he is understood to be ready to remain at Naturena and see out his contract rather than accept unfavourable terms this month. That stance adds a layer of steel to a situation already demanding careful handling.

So the stalemate holds, for now.

As the transfer window rolls on and Chiefs shape their squad under Da Cruz, Cele’s future hangs in the balance. Unless a solution emerges that satisfies everyone, he will stay on the club’s books, watching the new season take shape while weighing whatever opportunities come his way.