An alleged incident following the MTN8 final has sparked discussions among South African football supporters, with Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Thabo Cele and Kaizer Chiefs management figure Bobby Motaung at the centre of the story.
According to the account circulating on social media, Bobby Motaung was present at the stadium during the MTN8 final on Saturday. Following the final whistle, an alleged interaction between the two men reportedly took place, with claims that Motaung approached Cele to greet him with a handshake.
However, the story claims that Cele refused to shake hands with his former club’s management representative, immediately raising questions about what might have happened between them.
The alleged incident has attracted attention because Cele’s departure from Kaizer Chiefs was surrounded by reported difficulties. His move to Mamelodi Sundowns generated considerable discussion, particularly regarding the circumstances surrounding his exit from Naturena.
Supporters are now wondering whether the reported interaction had anything to do with the midfielder’s experience at Kaizer Chiefs or whether there were other reasons behind the alleged refusal.
DID THABO CELE EXPLAIN WHY HE REFUSED TO SHAKE HANDS WITH BOBBY MOTAUNG?
The circulating story suggests that Cele explained his position to the media following the match. However, his alleged explanation has not been independently verified, and no confirmed direct quotation is available to establish exactly what he said.
For that reason, it would be premature to attribute specific comments or motives to the midfielder without a reliable source.
Nevertheless, the story has generated curiosity among football followers, particularly those interested in the relationship between former players and their previous clubs after controversial departures.
BOBBY MOTAUNG TALKING
“Thabo Cele did not shake my hand after the MTN8 final, and I understand that people have questions about what happened. However, I want to make it clear that reports claiming we fought are not true.
I still have love and respect for Thabo, despite what happened on that day. I believe there may be reasons behind his decision, and I do not want people to rush to conclusions without hearing his side of the story.
Sometimes, there is more to a situation than what people see. For now, I will wait patiently for Thabo to explain his decision in his own words.”
THABO CELE SPEAKING
“Let me make it clear why I refused to shake hands with Bobby Motaung after the MTN8 final. My relationship with Bobby was not good during my time at Kaizer Chiefs.
I believe Bobby was the person behind the termination of my contract with the club. Things became difficult after I had a disagreement with the former technical team, and from that moment, our relationship was never the same.
I have my reasons for how I feel, and people should understand that there is a story behind what happened.
My decision was not made without a reason. Sometimes, people judge situations without knowing what happened behind the scenes.”
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