Former Highlanders and Young Warriors striker Mkhokheli Dube has penned a three-year deal with South African Premiership football side AmaZulu.
AmaZulu are home to his former teammate at Highlanders and Warriors captain Tapuwa Kapini, national team defender Carlington Nyadombo and midfielder and former Soccer Star of the Year Ramson Zhuwawo.
Dube is happy to have signed for the club and told the Usuthu website: “It seems like a good move, and I’m happy to join AmaZulu. The Premiership has improved a lot looking at the World Cup infrastructure and how competitive South African football has become.
“I’ve played with Tapuwa Kapini before at Highlanders in Zimbabwe and at Under-20 level, so I think I should have a good stay.”
Dube put pen to paper with Usuthu on Monday night and was due back home yesterday, before returning to Durban to join his new club for the 2012-13 season.
Dube left for South Africa last Tuesday for trials with AmaZulu amid reports that he could be rejoining his former club Highlanders, but instead opted for the more lucrative Absa Premiership. He previously had also been linked to newly-promoted Pretoria University before his move to AmaZulu, who have also signed midfielder Shaun Cramer from their feeder side Durban Warriors.
Cramer also reportedly signed a three-year deal, but he will be loaned back to Warriors for a year to gain more experience.
AmaZulu have made five new signings in preparation for the new season and Dube joins Prince Hlehla from Bloemfontein Celtic, Sifiso Vilakazi from Bidvest Wits and Liberian international midfielder Dulee Johnson.
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Dube, known by the name Kheli in the US Major Soccer League (MLS), played for Highlanders before he moved to the US.
He played college football for Lindsey Wilson College during his freshman and sophomore season, finding the net 36 times in 50 matches.
Dube transferred to Coastal Carolina University where he scored 16 goals in 26 games.
In 2007, he was the Big South Conference Player of the Year and a National Soccer Coaches’ Association of America All-South Atlantic performer, becoming the Big South Conference player of the week a record four times in his senior season.
In his college years he played for Michigan Bucks and Delaware Dynasty.
He was drafted into the US MLS in 2008 by New England Revolution and was runner-up MLS Rookie of the Year in that year. At the beginning of this year, he moved to Chicago Fire where he did not play in the first team and returned home in June after a waiver from Chicago.
Dube has previously represented the country in the Under-20 and Under-23 Young Warriors.
Meanwhile, Kaizer Chiefs have confirmed that they are in the process of acquiring the services of Jomo Cosmos winger and Zimbabwe junior international Matthew Rusike.
The midfielder failed to agree terms with Ajax Cape Town recently and Chiefs have revealed that negotiations are underway.
“Kaizer Chiefs would like to confirm that it’s engaged in the process of acquiring the services of Matthew Rusike from Jomo Cosmos,” the club said.
The 22-year-old will join a local club as a non-foreigner as he holds a South African identity document, having been born in the country to a South African mother.
