Following his move to Kaizer Chiefs, Cele's current-season form is level with last season (Season 5→7), while his Rating eased 21→14. His peak season for form remains 2022/23 (Season 14).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	A	Match	RTG	Season
2025/26	Kaizer Chiefs · 3rd	15	0	7.06	1	6
2024/25	Kaizer Chiefs	26	1	7.04	—	—
2024/25	Fakel · 16th	14	0	6.78	21	5
2023/24	Fakel · 11th	23	0	6.55	23	2
2022/23	Radomiak Radom · 10th	26	1	7.04	32	14
2021/22	Radomiak Radom · 7th	13	0	6.73	32	5

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 5 earlier seasons and 1 youth-team spell in the full career.

South Africa · international

Side	Apps	G
South Africa	31	0
South Africa U23	3	0
South Africa U20	3	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Squad depthCentral midfielder

T. Cele is a 29-year-old central midfielder at Kaizer Chiefs, rated 14 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 143rd of 273 on scout potential in the Premier Soccer League. An experienced operator, he has been a fringe squad member this season (33.6% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 3.38 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Cele.

Judged on this season alone, Cele graded 7 — a workmanlike campaign that ranks 36th of 44 of the 44 central midfielders in the Premier Soccer League, on 0 goals, 0 assists and 3.377 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's broadly in line with last season (Season 5 → 7). Over the 6 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2022/23.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 14, 28th of 44 of the 44 central midfielders in the Premier Soccer League. At 29 Cele is in his prime years, and a market index of 0.4 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Below his 2022/23 peak but holding a solid level — the platform for a return is there.

Peak: 2022/23Holding levelRemarkably consistentStepped up 2021/224 clubs

Current potential28th of 44 central midfielders · Premier Soccer League Current season36th of 44 central midfielders · Premier Soccer League 36th-best central midfielder in the Premier Soccer League 143rd in the Premier Soccer League · potential 28th-highest potential central midfielder in the Premier Soccer League

Ratingi

28th of 44 central midfielders

7.2

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

33.6%

Minutes

limited game time

3.38

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Kaizer Chiefs finished 3rd of 16 · an upper-table side

Apps

3.38

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

3.38 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 6 clean sheets across 15 appearances. Behind an upper-table side (3rd of 16) the side controls more games, so the defensive load is lighter — the value sits as much in composure and ball progression as in raw volume.

Watch points

Game time. Only 33.6% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 14, Cele carries the 28th-highest potential of the central midfielders in the Premier Soccer League of 44. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (3.38 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Experienced and reliable, but the value curve is easing (1.1× now → 0.8× projected in three years).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %33.6%

Available fixtures30 of 30

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 903.377

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Shot conversion %0

Shot accuracy %33.3

Pass accuracy %89

Dribble success %87.5

Cards / 900

Foul involvement / 903.377

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 22–27 (~1), then tapers with age. At 29, Cele sits on 0.4, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Cele's projected Rating — 14 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among central midfielders in the Premier Soccer League with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots on target2

Shots6

Passing

Assists0

Pass accuracy89%

Possession

Successful dribbles7

Dribble success87.5%

Fouls won21

Defending

Tackles20

Interceptions14

Fouls committed13

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards0

Red cards0

Transfer history

FakelAug 2023 – nowFree

Radomiak Radomuntil Aug 2023

CCova De PiedadeJul 2018 – Aug 2023Free

RReal(on loan)Jan 2018 – Jul 2018

BenficaJul 2017 – Jan 2018Free

RRealuntil Jul 2017

About T. Cele

Thabo Cele is a 29-year-old central midfielder who plays for Kaizer Chiefs, born on January 15, 1997 in KwaMashu, standing 178 cm tall. He is from South Africa. Kaizer Chiefs currently sit 3rd of 16 in the Premier Soccer League.

This season

In the current season, T. Cele has made 15 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 906 minutes, averaging a 7.15 match rating over his last 4 rated games. His season has spanned the Premier Soccer League and the CAF Confederation Cup.

When T. Cele plays, Kaizer Chiefs's record this season is 2W-2D-1L.

Recent matches

May 10, 2026: 2-0 win away at Sekhukhune United (45 minutes, 7.2 rating)
April 29, 2026: 0-2 loss away at Siwelele (90 minutes, 7.6 rating)
April 26, 2026: 1-1 draw away at Orlando Pirates (1 minutes)
April 18, 2026: 0-0 draw away at Polokwane City (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
April 15, 2026: 4-1 win away at Magesi (29 minutes, 6.6 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates T. Cele at 14 with a Season form score of 7.2, ranking 143rd of 273 central midfielders in the Premier Soccer League. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

His honours include 6 career titles — among them the Cup and the COSAFA Cup. Full list in the career record.

Career

Across 10 recorded seasons, T. Cele has totalled 231 club appearances with 8 goals and 2 assists for 6 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2020/21, with 29 appearances for Cova De Piedade.

T. Cele's career has also included time at Fakel, Radomiak Radom, CCova De Piedade, RReal and Benfica.

On the international stage, T. Cele has represented South Africa, South Africa U23, South Africa U20 — 37 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Kaizer Chiefs finished 3rd of 16 · an upper-table side

Watch points