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Austin Dube: Kaizer Chiefs sign Bafana Bafana defender
The 28-year-old centre-back becomes Amakhosi’s seventh signing during this transfer period
Kaizer Chiefs have announced the signing of defender Austin Dube from National First Division side Richards Bay.
The Bafana Bafana star joins the Soweto giants on a three-year deal with the option to renew for a further two years.
The move ends speculation as the defender was being linked with Chiefs since last season.
“We would like to confirm the signing of Thabani Austin Dube” Chiefs announced on social media.
“The central defender joins Amakhosi from Richards Bay United on a three-year contract with a further two-year option. The 28-year-old Dube recently lifted the Cosafa Cup with Bafana Bafana.”
Dube’s star shone brightest at the just-ended Cosafa Cup tournament where he started five of Bafana’s six matches as they ended up being crowned champions.
Joining Chiefs presents the left-footed central defender with an opportunity to play Premier Soccer League football for the first time ever.
His professional career has so far been marked by stints at National First Division sides Witbank Spurs, TS Galaxy and Richards Bay where he spent just a season before Chiefs came calling.
He arrives at Naturena to find another new centre-back signing Njabulo Ngcobo as well as already established defenders at the club in Erick Mathoho and Daniel Cardoso.
Dube’s former coach at Richards Bay, Sio Dladla, explains why the defender will thrive at Chiefs.
“When he joined the team [Richards Bay] he was like a God-send to me because I had always wanted a left-footed centre-back. I am a coach who likes building from the back and that requires you to have right and left-footed centre-backs,” said Dladla as per Phakaaathi.
“It made my job easy because he is so talented and can read the game so well. He is very articulate in his duties and does them with a sense of calm which inspires confidence in his teammates.
“The other good thing about him is that he has a big heart and is good in the air. He is an asset when you are defending set pieces and when you get attacking set pieces. He can also take the free kicks and has a good accurate shot.”
Dube was part of the TS Galaxy squad which beat Chiefs in the final of the 2019 Nedbank Cup.
