Kaizer Chiefs’ rising star, Wandile Duba, continues to steal the spotlight with his goals and performances. But head coach Nasreddine Nabi believes there’s one crucial hurdle standing between the 20-year-old and superstardom.
Duba added to his growing reputation with a well-taken goal in Chiefs’ dramatic 2-1 win over Mamelodi Sundowns in the Nedbank Cup semifinal at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Sunday. That win secured Chiefs a place in their first final in six years, setting up an intense showdown against Orlando Pirates at Moses Mabhida Stadium on May 10.
Duba’s Composure and Du Preez’s Late Heroics
Despite trailing 1-0 at halftime after a thunderous strike from Teboho Mokoena, Chiefs came out for the second half with a renewed focus. Duba capitalized on a poor back pass from Lucas Ribeiro Costa, calmly equalizing past Sundowns’ goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Ashley Du Preez then sent Chiefs fans into a frenzy with a last-minute winner, securing a dramatic comeback and a spot in the final.
Duba Outshines Fellow Strikers
The young forward’s goal was his sixth of the season in just 21 appearances — a remarkable feat for a player returning from a knee injury. With two goals in as many games, including a strike in a 1-1 draw against TS Galaxy the previous week, Duba is showing that he’s more than ready to take on a bigger role.
His tally now surpasses that of Chiefs’ other forwards, including Ranga Chivaviro and Ashley Du Preez, who both have five goals, and Tashreeq Morris, who has yet to find the net.
Given his form, many are asking if Duba is ready to be Chiefs’ main striker. However, the club’s leadership is still on the lookout for an experienced, proven goal scorer.
Nabi Highlights Mentality as Duba’s Next Challenge
After the match, Nabi acknowledged Duba’s impressive technical and physical qualities but pointed out the mental side of the game as the next area of growth for the young star.
“Duba has a lot of qualities — physically and technically,” Nabi said. “The only thing we work on with him is his mentality. Young players like him can struggle when they get a lot of attention from fans, especially at a big club like Kaizer Chiefs. Sometimes, he’s not 100% ready mentally.”
Nabi also noted that Duba has made significant progress since last season and could soon become the team’s first-choice striker if he stays focused.
“He’s made a lot of progress since last season, and I believe he can continue improving. If he gives us solutions as a first or second striker next season, then he could be Chiefs’ number one striker,” Nabi added.
With the Nedbank Cup final just around the corner, and a crucial Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates on May 3 to settle league matters, all eyes will be on Duba. The talented youngster now has a golden opportunity to prove himself as Chiefs’ future top striker.
