{"id":23564,"date":"2025-08-18T16:44:34","date_gmt":"2025-08-18T14:44:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/?p=23564"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T08:01:06","slug":"kaizer-chiefs-midfielder-thabo-cele-discusses-tackling-defensive-weaknesses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/kaizer-chiefs-midfielder-thabo-cele-discusses-tackling-defensive-weaknesses\/","title":{"rendered":"Kaizer Chiefs Midfielder Thabo Cele Discusses Tackling Defensive Weaknesses"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele has identified defensive transitions as the team&#8217;s key area for improvement, despite their strong start to the 2025\/2026 Betway Premiership season. Speaking ahead of their game against Richards Bay on Tuesday, Cele discussed how the team is working to fix this issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-defensive-transitions-remain-a-key-focus\"><strong>Defensive Transitions Remain a Key Focus<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>While Chiefs have enjoyed a perfect start, Cele acknowledged that conceding goals during transitions is still a major concern. He explained that the team is focused on controlling the game more effectively, especially in the opponents&#8217; half, to reduce the risk of counter-attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re working on controlling the game in the opponent\u2019s half to create more chances,\u201d Cele said during a press conference at the Kaizer Chiefs Village. \u201cThe main issue has been conceding on transitions, so we\u2019re trying to improve tactically to prevent that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The technical team has been implementing various tactical changes aimed at addressing this defensive vulnerability, which Cele believes will be key for the team\u2019s success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-351228341\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-team-unity-and-squad-depth-key-for-success\"><strong>Team Unity and Squad Depth: Key for Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Cele also reflected on the growing unity within the squad, which has been bolstered by the team\u2019s preseason camp in the Netherlands. He noted that the bond between players is helping them perform better together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;It\u2019s been positive, and we\u2019re aiming to keep improving,&#8221; Cele shared. &#8220;We want to start the season on a good note, and we\u2019re grateful for the results so far.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>He also highlighted the importance of squad depth. With the team competing in various competitions, Cele emphasized that healthy competition within the squad is vital for maintaining high performance throughout the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s healthy competition in midfield, and that\u2019s crucial for us,&#8221; Cele explained. &#8220;It\u2019s important for every position because we want to compete in every competition.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-strong-home-record-a-vital-ingredient-for-success\"><strong>Strong Home Record: A Vital Ingredient for Success<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As Chiefs prepare for their home game at FNB Stadium, Cele stressed the importance of maintaining a strong home record. He believes that winning at home will not only improve results but also boost the atmosphere at FNB Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe need to win home games. It\u2019ll improve the stadium atmosphere and attract more fans,&#8221; Cele said. &#8220;FNB is a massive stadium, and we want to make it feel like our home.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"gaute-3319264274\" class=\"gaute-inbetween-content gaute-entity-placement\" style=\"margin-top: 30px;margin-bottom: 30px;margin-left: auto;margin-right: auto;text-align: center;\"><div class=\"gaute-adlabel\">Advertisement<\/div><script async src=\"\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-1852772760112594\" crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script><ins class=\"adsbygoogle\" style=\"display:block;\" data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-1852772760112594\" \ndata-ad-slot=\"1819787043\" \ndata-ad-format=\"auto\" data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\n<script> \n(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); \n<\/script>\n<\/div><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-tactical-evolution-and-control-the-key-to-dominance\"><strong>Tactical Evolution and Control: The Key to Dominance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Tactically, Cele stated that the team is building on the positive aspects of last season while adding new elements to their game. He emphasized that Chiefs are aiming to control matches and avoid giving the opposition opportunities to exploit defensive transitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWe want to control games and dominate them,\u201d Cele concluded. \u201cBy doing that, we can reduce the risk of transitions and make things easier for ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Check also: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/mtn8-predictions-for-pirates-vs-sundowns\/\">MTN8 Semi-Final: Key Moments and Predictions Ahead of Pirates vs Sundowns Second Leg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Kaizer Chiefs\u2019 strong start to the season shows promise. However, with defensive transitions still an issue, the team remains focused on tactical improvements. With a deep squad and a commitment to building unity, Chiefs are setting their sights on continued success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Do you think Kaizer Chiefs can maintain their momentum and fix their defensive flaws? Share your thoughts in the comments below.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele highlights the team&#8217;s efforts to address defensive flaws despite their strong start to the Betway Premiership season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":23569,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_focus_keyword":"","rank_math_title":"","rank_math_description":"Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele highlights the team's efforts to address defensive flaws despite their strong start to the Betway Premiership season.","footnotes":""},"categories":[59,56,64],"tags":[296,275,288],"class_list":{"0":"post-23564","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-soccer","8":"category-sports","9":"category-sports-news","10":"tag-betway-premiership","11":"tag-kaizer-chiefs","12":"tag-soccer"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23564","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=23564"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23564\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":23570,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23564\/revisions\/23570"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/23569"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=23564"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=23564"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.gauteng.net\/whats-on-g\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=23564"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}