Duba on why Chiefs dropped him: I wasn’t giving what coach wanted

Kaizer Chiefs versatile attacker Wandile Duba has struggled to command a starting berth at the club this season.

In the previous edition, the 21-year-old was effectively used by the Glamour Boys' former coach Nasreddine Nabi. He was, on most occasions, played wide as the likes of Ranga Chivaviro and Ashley du Preez, and later Tashreeq Morris struggled to score. Duba ended the season with five goals and an assist across all competitions.

Flavio Silva Kaizer Chiefs — Image – Chiefs

However, the signing of Khanyisa Mayo, Etiosa Ighodaro, and Flavio Silva means Duba might be permanently played on the wing.

The attacker has managed an assist this season, while Silva has two goals already, and Mayo scored on his debut. Duba has now revealed that his failure to get a goal is the reason he has been demoted to the bench.

It is just a matter of time before I hit the net

Wandile Duba and Sage Stephens Kaizer Chiefs vs Stellenbosch — Image – Kaizer Chiefs

“I think I didn’t start my season very well, that’s why the coach ended up taking me out of the team. I wasn’t giving him what he wanted. I’m still working on myself, being better, and getting back to the starting lineup,” he told the media.

“I think every coach needs a striker who scores for his team because Flavio [Silva] and Mayo got into the team and both scored.

“I wasn’t doing that. But with the tactics and everything, I think I was doing it very well, but it was just a matter of me hitting the net,” he added.

Mayo steps in to help Duba

Khanyisa Mayo Kaizer Chiefs 2 — Image – Chiefs

Duba has further revealed how Mayo has offered to help him get back to his best and deliver for the Glamour Boys.

“I think we were playing against [Kabuscorp] in the CAF game. When we came back for the training session, Mayo came to me in the morning and was like, ‘You and I will work well together. If it means remaining behind together and practising shooting, I’m happy to do so. With the kind of experience the new strikers have, I think I will learn a lot to get back to my best.

“As a Kaizer Chiefs player, there’s always going to be pressure, but you have to play under the pressure. And being a striker at Kaizer Chiefs is not easy because not scoring for two games is a big issue. You know how our fans are. If you don’t score, you go out. Even for the coaches,” he concluded.