Mkhokheli Dube
Encyclopedia
Mkhokheli "Kheli" Dube is a Zimbabwe
an footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution
in Major League Soccer
.
for Highlanders
before coming to the United States.
He played college soccer
for Lindsey Wilson College
during his freshman and sophomore seasons, scoring 36 goals and tallying 13 assists in 50 games. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Coastal Carolina University
for his junior and senior seasons, where he scored 16 goals and had 12 assists in 26 games. He missed the first five weeks of his senior season with an injury, but still scored 11 goals. He is a two-time All-Big South performer and was a member of the 2006 Big South All-Tournament Team. He was also the 2007 Big South Conference Player of the Year and a NSCAA
All-South Atlantic performer.He was Big South Conference player of the week a record four times in his senior season.
During his college years Dube also played with both Michigan Bucks
and Delaware Dynasty
of the USL Premier Development League
, helping the Bucks reach the PDL championship game both in 2006 (when they also won the title) and 2007.
by New England Revolution
. He made his debut for the Revs on March 29, 2008 as an 81st minute substitute for Kenny Mansally in their opening day victory over Houston Dynamo
. While Dube was not initially expected to play a major role with the Revolution, a long-term injury to Taylor Twellman
gave him an opportunity to start a number of games. He scored his first MLS goal in his first start on May 17, 2008, and added several more goals in the following months, including the winning goal in the Revs' SuperLiga
match against Santos Laguna
. Dube was runner-up to Los Angeles Galaxy
defender Sean Franklin
for 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year. Scored his first career hatrick on 08/23/09 against Real Salt Lake and was voted for his first player of the week award the same week.
.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an footballer who currently plays for New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Early Career and College
Dube played in the youth system of his hometown team, Zimbabwe Saints, and played professionally for one year in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer LeagueZimbabwe Premier Soccer League
Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League, also known as Castle Lager Premier Soccer League due to sponsorship reasons, is the top professional division of the Zimbabwe Football Association, it was created in 1980, as a successor to the 1962 formed Rhodesia National Football League.The League consists of 16...
for Highlanders
Highlanders FC
Highlanders FC is a Zimbabwean football club based in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, formed in 1926. It is arguably the best supported and most successful team in the Zimbabwe Premier Soccer League with a following found in all corners of the country and the world at large.-History:19th century- Colonialists...
before coming to the United States.
He played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
for Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College
Lindsey Wilson College is a private four-year college affiliated with the United Methodist Church in an open ecumenical atmosphere. The 45 acre campus is located in Columbia, Kentucky. The school currently offers associate degrees in 11 areas of study, bachelor degrees in 20 areas of study and...
during his freshman and sophomore seasons, scoring 36 goals and tallying 13 assists in 50 games. After his sophomore season, he transferred to Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University
Coastal Carolina University is an independent, state-supported, liberal arts university in Conway, South Carolina, USA, located eight miles west of Myrtle Beach. Founded in 1954, Coastal became an independent university in 1993. The University enrolls approximately 8,300 students on its campus...
for his junior and senior seasons, where he scored 16 goals and had 12 assists in 26 games. He missed the first five weeks of his senior season with an injury, but still scored 11 goals. He is a two-time All-Big South performer and was a member of the 2006 Big South All-Tournament Team. He was also the 2007 Big South Conference Player of the Year and a NSCAA
NSCAA
The National Soccer Coaches Association of America is an organization of American soccer coaches founded in 1941. The NSCAA has grown from a handful of college soccer coaches to more than 22,000 members, making it the largest coaching organization in the world. Its members coach at all levels of...
All-South Atlantic performer.He was Big South Conference player of the week a record four times in his senior season.
During his college years Dube also played with both Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks
Michigan Bucks is an American soccer team based in Pontiac, Michigan, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference.The team plays its home games at the...
and Delaware Dynasty
Delaware Dynasty
Delaware Dynasty was an American soccer team, founded in 2006. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2007, when the team left the league and the franchise was terminated.The team played its home games at...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
, helping the Bucks reach the PDL championship game both in 2006 (when they also won the title) and 2007.
Professional
Dube was drafted 8th in the 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft2008 MLS Supplemental Draft
The 2008 MLS Supplemental Draft was held on January 24, 2008, following the SuperDraft , as teams fill out their developmental rosters.-Round 1:-Round 2:-Round 3:-Round 4:...
by New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. He made his debut for the Revs on March 29, 2008 as an 81st minute substitute for Kenny Mansally in their opening day victory over Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
. While Dube was not initially expected to play a major role with the Revolution, a long-term injury to Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman
Taylor Twellman is a retired American soccer player who currently works as a television analyst for the Philadelphia Union and ESPN soccer.-Youth and College:Taylor was raised in St...
gave him an opportunity to start a number of games. He scored his first MLS goal in his first start on May 17, 2008, and added several more goals in the following months, including the winning goal in the Revs' SuperLiga
2008 North American SuperLiga
The 2008 North American SuperLiga, is the second edition of the SuperLiga competition. The top four Major League Soccer teams by point totals at the end of the 2007 season earn qualification....
match against Santos Laguna
Santos Laguna
Club Santos Laguna is a Mexican football club. They represent the urban area of Comarca Lagunera, which is made up of Torreón, Gomez Palacio, and Lerdo. Santos Laguna currently plays in the Primera División. The club was founded in 1982, and reached Mexico's top division after buying the franchise...
. Dube was runner-up to Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
defender Sean Franklin
Sean Franklin
Sean Michael Franklin is an American soccer player who currently plays as a defender for the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer.-Youth and amateur:...
for 2008 MLS Rookie of the Year. Scored his first career hatrick on 08/23/09 against Real Salt Lake and was voted for his first player of the week award the same week.
International
Dube has represented his country with the under 20 and under 23 national teams, but has yet to make his debut for the full Zimbabwe national football teamZimbabwe national football team
The Zimbabwe national football team, nicknamed The Warriors, is the national team of Zimbabwe and is controlled by the Zimbabwe Football Association. They were known as the Southern Rhodesia national football team from 1939–1964, then the Rhodesia national football team until 1980, when Rhodesia...
.
New England Revolution
- North American SuperLigaNorth American SuperLigaThe SuperLiga was an official North American association football competition between teams from the Primera División of Mexico and Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each country. The competition was sanctioned by CONCACAF, U.S...
(1): 20082008 North American SuperLigaThe 2008 North American SuperLiga, is the second edition of the SuperLiga competition. The top four Major League Soccer teams by point totals at the end of the 2007 season earn qualification....