Thabo Cele’s move to Mamelodi Sundowns has placed the midfielder in an exclusive group of players who have represented two of the three biggest clubs in South Africa.
Sundowns officially announced Cele’s signing this week after he left Kaizer Chiefs following the mutual termination of his contract.
For Cele, the move represents another significant chapter in a career that has already taken him to Europe and back to South Africa.
But his arrival at Chloorkop also places him in the company of some of the most recognisable names to have worn both the black and gold of Chiefs and the yellow of Sundowns.
It is a list that includes players who have won league titles, continental trophies, captained the two clubs and, in some cases, become household names in South African football.
From Chiefs to Sundowns — and back
One of the most prominent recent examples is Khama Billiat.
The Zimbabwean attacker became one of Sundowns’ most influential players after joining the club from Ajax Cape Town in 2013. He was part of the side that won the 2016 CAF Champions League before making the move to Chiefs in 2018.
Billiat’s Chiefs debut came against his former club, making for an immediate reunion with Sundowns. Ramahlwe Mphahlele also made the direct journey between the two clubs, moving from Sundowns to Chiefs ahead of the 2016/17 season.
The defender spent six seasons with Amakhosi, making 127 official appearances, and captained both clubs during his career. He recently revealed that, despite his distinguished spells at Chiefs and Sundowns, Orlando Pirates had actually been his boyhood dream.
Then there is George Maluleka, whose move was particularly significant because it went in the opposite direction.
After six years and more than 130 appearances for Chiefs, Maluleka joined Sundowns in 2020. He went on to win trophies at Chloorkop, although his time there was considerably shorter than his Chiefs career.
Keagan Dolly followed a similarly notable path. After establishing himself as a South African star at Sundowns and helping them win the 2015/16 league title and 2016 CAF Champions League, Dolly moved to Montpellier before returning home with Chiefs in 2021.
The list stretches further back.
Kenny Niemach, Katlego Mphela, and Derrick Spencer are among the former strikers who represented both clubs, while Gastón Sirino is another recent example after spending several years at Sundowns before joining Chiefs.
Cele now becomes part of that lineage.
A different challenge awaits Cele
His move is also fascinating because of the circumstances surrounding it.
Cele only joined Chiefs in January 2025 after several years playing in Portugal, Poland, and Russia. He won the Nedbank Cup with Amakhosi and became an important part of the midfield before his departure.
Now he joins a Sundowns squad that has reclaimed its position at the top of the Betway Premiership recently while also carrying the expectations that come with being the reigning CAF Champions League holders.
The move means Cele will eventually face his former club wearing the colours of one of its biggest rivals. That is something every player who crosses between Chiefs and Sundowns has to confront.
Some have been embraced. Others have faced suspicion. For some, the move has been career-defining.
Cele now has the opportunity to decide which category he belongs in. His first task, however, is simpler: establish himself at Sundowns.
If he does that, his name will eventually sit alongside some of the most decorated players who have successfully navigated the journey between Naturena and Chloorkop. | IOL Sport