Wandile Duba told hard work can earn Bafana Bafana call-up after Chiefs hat-trick

Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando Da Cruz says Wandile Duba has the potential to play for Bafana Bafana, but must improve his consistency and continue working hard.

The 22-year-old striker scored three times as Chiefs beat TS Galaxy 3-0 in the Carling Knockout Cup last-16 tie at FNB Stadium on Tuesday night.

After a goalless first half, Duba opened the scoring three minutes after the restart. He then struck twice in quick succession in the 62nd and 66th minutes to complete his first top-flight hat-trick.

The result eliminated TS Galaxy, also known as the Rockets, and sent Chiefs through to the quarter-finals.

Duba has emerged as one of the leading figures in a breakthrough season with the Soweto club. The development graduate has scored six goals in seven appearances across all competitions.

Three of those goals have come in the Betway Premiership and three in the Carling Knockout Cup, making him Chiefs’ leading scorer despite having spent time out with an injury earlier in the campaign.

Da Cruz said Duba’s ability was clear, but warned that the young forward would need to maintain his concentration and respond to guidance from the coaching staff if he is to attract the attention of Bafana Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane.

“I am very happy for Duba; he is a young player, and so sometimes he has a lot of ups and downs. He must improve his consistency,” Da Cruz said at his post-match news conference.

“He is a very good young player. He is able to drop back and make deep runs. He is very good in front of the goal, but he must continue to work hard, to listen to the coaches, and maybe if he continues to work hard, he can become a player for Bafana Bafana.”

The victory kept Chiefs’ hopes of winning silverware alive and gave them a significant lift before Saturday’s Soweto Derby against Orlando Pirates.

Duba’s performance also provided the latest sign of his growing influence in the Chiefs attack, having established himself as a regular threat during his first major campaign with the club.