Former Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Jomo’ Sono has expressed his belief that Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele should have been included in Hugo Broos’ Bafana Bafana squad for the upcoming AFCON 2025 in Morocco. While Sono backed the selected squad to succeed, he noted that Cele’s omission leaves the midfield lacking sufficient creativity.
Sono Highlights Missing Creativity
Jomo Sono, a veteran figure in South African football, stated his support for Hugo Broos’ overall selection but singled out the absence of the Chiefs star.
- The Squad’s Strength: Sono told KickOff that the squad is “a good squad” and has the potential to “reach the final” in Morocco.
- The Missing Link: “The player I would have loved to see in the team is Thabo Cele. Our current squad works hard in midfield, but they lack creativity,” Sono explained.
Thabo Cele’s Profile
Sono is clearly an admirer of the KwaMashu-born midfielder, highlighting the specific attributes Cele offers:
- Key Attributes: “Cele is creative, he’s got a very good engine. He never stops running. And he’s got a little bit of experience,” said the “Black Prince.”
- Role in Midfield: Cele, 28, is naturally a deep-lying playmaker—a holding midfielder who controls the tempo and dictates distribution, rather than a classic box-to-box or defensive midfielder.
Broos’ Midfield Selection
Hugo Broos, who is set to retire after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, opted for four other midfielders ahead of the Kaizer Chiefs player:
- Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Bathusi Aubaas (Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Sphephelo Sithole (CD Tondela, Portugal)
- Thalente Mbatha (Orlando Pirates)
Cele’s Adaptation Challenge
Cele joined Kaizer Chiefs in January and has played 29 games while adapting to the local game, which is often faster and less structured than the European leagues he previously played in (Poland’s Fakel Voronezh).
- PSL Demand: The report notes that for Cele to consistently excel in the counter-attack-heavy Betway Premiership, he may need to “tweak his game” to become a more mobile, box-to-box operator, moving away from his preferred role as a tempo-controlling deep-lying playmaker.
