Macheke, Cele off on loan to Royal Zulu

CHIPPA United duo Zitha Macheke and Mhlengi Cele have been loaned to National First Division side Thanda Royal Zulu ahead of the Premier Soccer League season.

The two will reunite with former Chilli Boys coach Roger Sikhakhane, who is now in charge of the Richards Bay side.

Macheke joined Chippa on a loan deal from Kaizer Chiefs last season.

Meanwhile, 29-year-old striker Cele returns to Thanda after spending two seasons at the Port Elizabeth side.

Sikhakhane confirmed to The Herald yesterday that Macheke and Cele were training with Thanda.

However, he said could not comment further on the matter.

“I am not in a position to comment about them [Macheke and Cele] at this point, because I don’t know much about their loan deal with the club.

“But I can confirm that they are here and are training with the team,” Sikhakhane said.

Chippa United spokesman and team manager Luthando Zibeko said he had not yet received confirmation on the matter, as he was out of office.

“We don’t have their contracts and I do not have confirmation from the office. I am in camp in KZN,” Zibeko said.

The Chilli Boys are on a three-week pre-season camp, starting in KZN.

They will spend the last week of their camp in Johannesburg before heading back to the Bay.