Thabo Cele weighs in on Kaizer Chiefs’ new signings

Kaizer Chiefs star Thabo Cele has shared his assessment of the Soweto giants’ new signings as they gear up for the upcoming 2025/26 season.

The Glamour Boys have been active in the transfer market, aiming to strengthen their squad and compete for major trophies after a period of inconsistency.

Chiefs recently concluded a pre-season tour in the Netherlands, where head coach Nasreddine Nabi focused on refining tactics and team combinations. During their time abroad, Chiefs engaged in several training matches against top Dutch teams, preparing for what promises to be an interesting season.

Last season, Chiefs experienced an inconsistent run, finishing ninth in the league with 32 points from 28 matches. However, they ended a 10-year trophy drought by securing the 2025 Nedbank Cup, defeating rivals Orlando Pirates 2-1 in the final at Moses Mabhida Stadium in May.

Building on their Nedbank Cup success, the Naturena-based side has brought in a host of new players, including Thabiso Monyane, Siphesihle Ndlovu, Paseka Mako, Nkanyiso Shinga, Flavio Silva, and Ethan Chislett.

Having spent a few weeks training alongside the new signings, Cele believes the club has made quality additions that will play a significant role in the upcoming season.

“It was important for the new guys to come in, and we know that they are quality. They’re going to add value to our team, and we need them,” Cele told Chiefs media.

He added that the new players have quickly grasped the team’s objectives. “Seeing what I’ve seen in training, I feel like they also understand the mission at hand. We’ve been gelling together beautifully, and there’s positivity around the team, and not fake positivity, it’s real.”

Reflecting on their pre-season, Cele noted the team’s cohesion. “In the Netherlands, we played some difficult games, and we got tested. I feel like in those tests we became close, so we’ve spoken amongst ourselves and we know the missions for the next season.”