Austin Thabani Dube’s football career took an unexpected turn when he joined Kaizer Chiefs just five months after playing a crucial role in eliminating the Soweto club from the Nedbank Cup.

His journey remains an interesting example of how quickly circumstances can change in professional football. career took an unexpected turn when he joined Kaizer Chiefs just five months after playing a crucial role in eliminating the Soweto club from the Nedbank Cup. His journey remains an interesting example of how quickly circumstances can change in professional football.

The memorable encounter took place at FNB Stadium on February 7, 2021, when Richards Bay FC defeated Chiefs 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup Round of 32. At the time, Richards Bay were competing in South Africa’s second division, making their victory a significant upset.

Dube opened the scoring in the 28th minute after receiving a pass from Khanyisa Mayo. Chiefs responded in the second half, with Leonardo Castro finding the net in the 76th minute to restore parity. However, Richards Bay refused to settle for extra time, and Siyabonga Vilane scored a dramatic late winner to eliminate Amakhosi from the competition.

For Dube, the result eventually became an important milestone in his career. On July 20, 2021, Kaizer Chiefs confirmed his arrival on a three-year contract with an option to extend for another two years. His performances for Richards Bay had attracted attention, particularly his consistency throughout the 2020–21 campaign.

The defender started all 28 of Richards Bay’s league matches that season, helping the club maintain a competitive campaign that also saw them reach the Nedbank Cup quarterfinals.

His reputation received another boost when he represented South Africa at the 2021 COSAFA Cup, contributing to the national team’s successful campaign shortly before settling into life at Naturena.

However, his stay at Chiefs ended earlier than initially planned. In July 2023, the club announced that his contract had been terminated by mutual agreement, a year before its scheduled conclusion. During his two seasons with Amakhosi, Dube made 18 appearances across all competitions.

Source:

https://x.com/ChiefsCentralZA/status/2109569772883198247