It's something for the heart

Last Wednesday in Bryanston, Johannesburg, Rudy Project - a leading Italian brand in high-performance eyewear and sporting gear - officially welcomed Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Thabo Cele and Orlando Pirates striker Tshegofatso Mabasa as its newest Ambassadors. The announcement event provided a unique opportunity for Soccer Laduma to sit down with Cele, courtesy of Rudy Project, for an exclusive interview. In this frank interview with Soccer Laduma's Masebe Qina, Cele opens up about his return to South African football, lifting silverware with Amakhosi, the emotional weight of ending a decade-long trophy drought, and what it means to align with a brand that reflects his values as both an athlete and a person.

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Masebe Qina: Thabo, congratulations on becoming one of the newest Ambassadors for Rudy Project. How does it feel to join forces with a brand that’s not only a leader in performance eyewear, but also rapidly growing in the sports industry?

Thabo Cele: Um, you know, I was just telling one of the brothers who was in attendance about the Rudy Project that even before they approached me, I had started following them and had started watching the Tour de France (Rudy Project has a strong presence in the Tour de France). When they approached me, I instantly connected with the brand because it resonates with my personal values. It’s not only about the glasses and the brand, but it’s deeper than that because there are some attributes and values that we share as athletes. So, it’s something that’s important and really special for me to be the Ambassador of such a brand – Rudy Project.

MQ: How do you see your role as a Rudy Project Ambassador contributing to the brand’s growth, especially here at home?

TC: Obviously, me joining with the Rudy Project team is also to help grow myself and also to help the brand. The people who like or love Thabo Cele might be interested in purchasing some of the glasses because it’s just a natural thing – the love of the people and just the spirit. Being a part of this hopefully does something to the people that are interested in these kinds of things.

MQ: You’ve only been back in South Africa for a few months, and you’ve already lifted silverware with Kaizer Chiefs by winning the Nedbank Cup. How does it feel to make such a strong impact so quickly?