Mzansi football star Thulani Cele has reportedly been released from prison in America.
According to recent reports, Football player Thulani Cele has been released from jail in the U.S. He served 18 months for stealing a cellphone in Georgia, United States (US), in June 2022.
IsiZulu newspaper, Isolezwe, reports that Cele’s aunt, Nonhlanhla Shongwe, confirmed his release in a statement. She said,
“He has been released from jail. He has served his sentence. We are happy about his release as a family. We’ve been waiting for this day for a long time,”
She has also revealed that Cele will not be returning to SA. He will stick around to see if any clubs will sign him when a transfer window opens in January.
SA People reports that AmaZulu signed Cele after an incredible performance at the Nedbank Cup 2019 with Ke Yona. He later got a trial with Georgia’s first division side, FC Gagra, through Collen Mashawa – an agent he met when he was with the Ke Yona squad. However, he arrived in the US and discovered the trial was a scam.
He was stranded and couldn’t pay his hotel bills. He was reported missing by his family. Speaking to SA FM this year, Shongwe said Cele maintained his innocence. He is alleged to have used someone’s cellphone to call home when the robbery incident took place.
“There was no force or robbery as they claimed. He returned the phone, even the owner of the phone confirmed this. Also, there was a language barrier during the case, which could have affected the matters,” said Shongwe.
