How Nabi is helping Wandile Duba reach his full potential at Chiefs

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Wandile Duba’s former coach at the now-defunct Lenasia Football Academy, Sifiso Nxumalo, has highlighted the key factors contributing to Duba’s growth under Kaizer Chiefs coach Nasreddine Nabi.

Duba, who was groomed by Nxumalo at the Lenasia Academy until joining the Chiefs development ranks in 2019 at the tender age of 15, has made significant strides in his career.

He impressed in the DStv Diski Challenge[DDC] with the Chiefs reserve side, earning a promotion to the senior team in the 2022/23 season under the guidance of then-coach Arthur Zwane.

Under the watchful eye of current coach Nabi, Duba has been converted from a striker to a winger and has become a regular starter for Amakhosi. So far this season, he has contributed one goal and two assists in eight matches across all competitions.

Nxumalo believes that Nabi has been instrumental in boosting Duba’s confidence, making him a more aggressive player. He is optimistic that this season could be a breakthrough year for Duba, as Nabi’s trust in him has given him the platform to showcase his full potential.

SIFISO NXUMALO SAYS DUBA HAS BECOME MORE CONFIDENT AND AGGRESSIVE UNDER NABI

Wandile Duba at Kaizer Chiefs training session. Picture courtesy of Kaizer Chiefs

“The coach has brought so much confidence in him [Duba] because the coach shows a lot of trust in him. He should appreciate the opportunity that he is getting, and he can only repay the coach by working hard and being consistent,” Nxumalo told�FARPost.

“I’ve known him to be a fighter, but now he’s got a big personality, and he’s very aggressive; that’s something I didn’t know. People may think that he’s disrespectful, but he wants to win. He’s one of the most competitive human beings that I know.

“I think it’s a very good time for him that he’s playing. His progress at Kaizer Chiefs has been slow, as the team has not been doing well.

“This is the season we may see his real potential and quality because of his relationship with Mduduzi [Shabalala]. It started from the academy, then in the DDC and now the coaches believe in them, and they are playing.”