The Sunday News
GOLDING Dube, a former AmaZulu FC defender has set his eyes on coaching at a higher level in the South African football scene with his Gauteng based side Blue Stars enjoying a purple patch an on path to play in the ABC Motsepe League.
From the Motsepe sponsored league Dube is not ruling out that his team may go as far as the National First Division.
Dube, a product of the former Mpopoma-based juniors, Mthala who were fronted by legend Ernest “Maphepha” Sibanda and the community, had a successful career as a player which earned him professional contracts in South Africa and earned him a Premiership title in Zimbabwe and other pieces of silverware.
Having impressed as a junior, when Charles Mhlauri established Phinda Mzala in 1995, an exciting project that assembled the best Under-18s Bulawayo had to offer, Dube found himself among a host of young players — Bekithemba Ndlovu,the late Mephias Webb, Richard Choruma, Mike “Para” Zivira, Lindani “Limpa” Kurairwa, Claremore Mutomba, Gift “Thebe” Lunga and Witness Gumbo at Phinda Mzala.
The First Division outfit gave a good account of itself in 1996 and it did not come as a surprise when in 1997 a number of the boys were poached by Premiership clubs newly promoted AmaZulu and Highlanders.
Dube, a versatile defender who could play on the wing, central defence and defensive link landed at the then expensively assembled AmaZulu teaming up with Costa Chiimba, Misheck Makota (both deceased), Ferdinad Mwachindalo, Patrick Daka and Goodson Dolola Gama.
He established himself in the characteristic hard tackling AmaZulu defence.
“The fruits of my hard work with Mthala and Phinda Mzala paid off as I was signed up by AmaZulu in 1997,” said Dube from his Pretoria base on Thursday.
As his star continued to shine, Dube found himself crossing the Limpopo River to join Port Elizabeth based Rainbow Stars on a season’s loan in2000/01. A year later Dube moved to Avendale Athletico based in Cape Town.
He returned to AmaZulu in 2003 and was part of the Premiership winning side that broke Highlanders’1998-2002 stranglehold in Zimbabwean football. But at the mature age of 28, Dube suffered a career ending injury in 2003 in a clash with Highlanders in the Unity Cup.
“Unfortunately I suffered a career ending injury in a match against Highlanders in November of 2003,” as AmaZulu continued to grow in stature with Herbert Dick, David Mkandawire played in central defence, with Mkhuphali Masuku, Dube, Makota, Richard March, Dolola and Nkosana Gumbo also competed for roles in defence.
Investing in quality players like Kelvin Mushangazhike, Joseph Kabwe, Patrick Daka and Kingstone Rinemhota, Ronald Sibanda, Muzondiwa Mugadza and Mlungisi Ndebele saw AmaZulu still the glamour from the traditional Big Three of Zimbabwean football Caps United, Dynamos and Highlanders.
The injury saw Dube shift focus to coaching with Buccaneers in the Bulawayo Zifa Division Two side with Zimbabwe Soccer Coaches Association executive member Oscar Mazhambe as his mentor.
He begun attending courses supervised by Nelson Matongorere. Dube had a stint with Njube Sundowns under the tutelage of 2009 Coach of the Year Philani Ncube in 2008.
He was to move to Mbabane Highlanders to work as banker turned football coach Phillip Mbofana’s assistant.
Like a rolling stone that does not gather any moss Dube joined newly promoted Hellenic as head coach the following season, with further attachments with Red Lions and Manzini Sundowns.
His efforts were later realised in South Africa where he coached the Black Leopards reserves working under Royal Eagles coach Kosta Papic who was then with Lidoda Liduvha.
He was to return to Moneni Pirates in Swaziland for a brief while before landing in Pretoria where his stock continues to rise.
Dube, born in Dombodema near Plumtree to a footballing father Godfrey Dube who coached Halsteads Brothers and Dairibord started playing football at Nzwananzi in Luveve when he was in Grade Three as a striker. He was to blossom at Mthala coached by Ernest Mpala.
Dube believes in juniors and organised training and team work as key to success and dreams of coaching Premiership clubs in the Sadc Region’s top leagues some day and is enjoying every moment of his learning curve.
Dube said he found Highlanders the most difficult team to play against because he had grown up playing against a majority of the boys in the junior league. He added that Dynamos were always a tough nut to crack.
“We grew up together with a majority of the boys at Highlanders. Our rivalry started a long way back and it was also bragging rights at stake,” said Dube.
