Ex-Pirates star fights back as fraudsters use his identity to scam footballers

For three years, former Orlando Pirates midfielder Andile “Sguda” Cele has been locked in a relentless battle with online fraudsters who are hijacking his identity to scam aspiring footballers out of their money, he told The Witness. The scammers, he said, lure victims with promises of football trials and opportunities at KwaZulu-Natal-based Batway Premiership clubs — on condition that they pay upfront fees. He said the fraudsters circulate forms and instructions to victims, convincing them they have been selected and will be transported by bus to football trials once payment is made.

Cele said he opened a criminal case last year while still attached to AmaZulu. I don’t know if this is one person or there are many. “The cell phone number being used is not mine,” he said.

After leaving AmaZulu in December last year and returning to Pietermaritzburg, Cele said he expected the impersonation to stop — but instead it intensified. “I thought that these people would leave me alone as maybe I’m not of value to them as I am no longer with AmaZulu, but that didn’t happen and now it’s worse,” he said.