Wandile Dube has potential at Mamelodi Sundowns, says scout

Mamelodi Sundowns have been told new signing Wandile Dube has “great potential”, although one scout believes comparisons with Mbekezeli Mbokazi are unfair to the former AmaZulu centre-back.

Sundowns completed the signing of Dube on transfer deadline day on Monday evening and formally announced the arrival of the 22-year-old on Tuesday.

The left-footed defender was yet to make an appearance for AmaZulu this season, meaning there is limited public knowledge about what he will bring to The Brazilians.

However, a source close to Sundowns’ scouting network believes the move could provide Dube with the environment needed to develop.

“He’s got a lot of promising things about him, Sundowns is a club that he can fit in very well,” the scout told KickOff on condition of anonymity.

“It’s good for him, it’s a very positive signing, great potential you know. Sundowns obviously makes you better, it’s rare for players not to become better, especially if they get game-time, everybody always improves.”

Mbokazi comparison questioned

Dube has been linked in parts of the Durban media with the early career of former Orlando Pirates defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi, who is currently at Chicago Fire.

The scout rejected the idea that Dube’s progress should be measured against Mbokazi’s rise, arguing that the two players have arrived at different stages of their careers and are operating in different circumstances.

“I don’t like comparing players, everybody has got his own path. There was no Mbokazi before Mbokazi, so he is also on his journey. This thing of comparing people is a problem for me,” the source said.

The scout acknowledged that Dube and Mbokazi may have been at a similar level when Mbokazi first began establishing himself, but said the circumstances at their respective clubs are not comparable.

“At the time Mbokazi was starting, you can say they are around the same level, obviously with Sundowns there are other good players,” the scout said.

“Mbokazi came at the right time at Pirates where there was not that much competition in terms of centre-back as a left-footed player.”

Regular opportunities helped Mbokazi make an impression, but Dube faces a more demanding route into the Sundowns team because of the quality within the squad and the club’s involvement in FIFA competitions.

“And obviously you get game-time, you do well. With this one also, Dube, the future is bright,” the scout added.

“It’s just not going to be as easy as Mbokazi when he arrived, because at Sundowns there is a lot of quality and a team competing in FIFA competitions is not the same as Pirates, which was just coming back to continental competitions.

“It’s different levels, it can’t be fair to this boy to compare him to Mbokazi’s rise. These are different stages.”