Mali explains the logic behind Dube's Sundowns move

AmaZulu Head of Football Strategy Sinesipho Mali has lifted the lid on what defender Wandile Dube brings to Mamelodi Sundowns after he was signed from Usuthu on PSL deadline day — a move that raised eyebrows and came as a surprise to many.

Sundowns completed their signing spree in the previous transfer window with the acquisition of the 22-year-old, who was yet to feature this season for AmaZulu — but Mali has revealed the thinking behind the Brazilians' bold move.

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"A rare balance"

Mali opened up on what attracted the Tshwane giants to sign Dube, crediting the club's growing scouting department for identifying a player with a unique profile.

"He's a very good left-footed centre-back and you are right, the growing scouting department of the club deserves some credit, it's still going to grow, expect us to grow in that department."

"But yeah, Wandi is a left-footed centre-back, which is rare to find. It's rare to find a balance within a player with a great physical profile and highly technical, in terms of being able to play," Mali told journalists at the University of Pretoria.

70% of PSL teams play right-footed centre-backs

The former Head of Performance Analysis at SAFA highlighted the scarcity of left-footed centre-backs in the domestic game, pointing to a statistic that underlines just how valuable Dube's profile is.

"And you have to understand, when you look generally in the PSL, 70 percent of the PSL (teams) play right-footed centre-backs. So that talks to the scarcity of left-footed centre-backs."

"At Bafana we struggled to find left-footed centre-backs for the longest time until we got Rushwin (Dortley), so that talks to the scarcity. So left-footed centre-backs are rare, especially those who have this great balance, right physical profile, highly-technical, for a team that wants to be possession-based," Mali added.

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"He will fit their game model very well"

Mali concluded by emphasising that Dube's primary attribute — his ability to defend — is what makes him an ideal fit for Miguel Cardoso's possession-based system at Chloorkop.

"But most importantly, has the ability to defend, right? Because that's the primary job of a defender, great aerial ability. I really think he will fit their game model very well and for us we're very clear, we've got a big pool of talent," Mali concluded.

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Amazulu Mamelodi Sundowns Sentiments Sinesipho Mali Wandile Dube