Mkhokheli reflects on 19-year-old career
SYANGUhas learnt from experience that if you work hard and apply more energy and time to it, and more consistency, you get a better result. It comes from the work. These are the words that clearly describe veteran striker Mkhokheli Dube who has seen it all in the world of football.
The former Highlanders and Bulawayo City gunman is one of the renowned strikers who have seen it all in the football pitch locally and internationally and he is still going strong. After three titles with Highlanders at the turn of the millennium, he won another title with FC Platinum last season.
“I started playing football in 1994 at Mahlabezulu Primary where I was coached by the late school head Mr D Mlilo, that is where the love of football began,” said Dube.
The veteran striker realised that football could take him far while he was still at Dunlop Football Club.
“As a junior I played for Tshabalala Pirates and then moved to Dunlop FC where I was coached by Ndaba Maqeda and that is when I realised that I could make a living out of it and after one season I then joined the Highlanders juniors which was under the late Benjamin Moyo. I can say without doubt that this is where I was natured to be ready for big stage,” he said.
He broke into the Highlanders first team in 1999 and in 2004, moved to the United States.
“From Bosso juniors I joined the senior team where I played alongside the likes of Gilbert Banda, Chipo Tsodzo and the late Adam Ndlovu and at Highlanders I managed to win three championships.”
In America he played for Lindsey Wilson from 2004 to 2005, joined Michigan Bucks in 20062007 and moved to Coastal Carolina, and then New English Revolution and in 2012 he signed for Chicago Fire before he made a return to Africa and joined the South Africa Premier league side Amazulu in 2013. In 2016 he was lured back to Zimbabwe by Joey Antipas where he joined Chicken Inn. In 2017 he went on to join Bulawayo City FC before moving to FC Platinum.
He also unpacked his move to America as an eye opener.
“Moving to Europe was a great opportunity for me because I had to study while I played football. It was a real eye opener because I was exposed to different things. I studied Business Management and Communication I can proudly say I achieved a lot more than I had expected,” said Dube.
When it comes to national duty Dube has not represented Zimbabwe more than five times but he had more caps as a junior.
“Unfortunately for the senior national team I have four caps but I got more than 40 at junior level at under 17 and under 23.”
Asked on what he thinks has made him to stay in the game for such a long time he said:
“Appreciation of the talent that God has blessed me with, discipline, hard work and dedication and most importantly taking a good care of my body.”
As veteran player he also gave a word of advice to up-and-coming soccer players.
“What I can say is that football is a short career, be disciplined, dedicated to the game for it can take you places and change your livelihood and try to stay humble all the times. Be willing to listen and learn everyday and stay away from drugs,” he added.