Wandile Duba Makes Kaizer Chiefs History With First 10-Goal Calendar Year Since Leonardo Castro

Wandile Duba has reached an important milestone in his young career after becoming the first Kaizer Chiefs player since Leonardo Castro in 2018 to score 10 goals in a calendar year. The forward has found the back of the net 10 times across all competitions since the beginning of 2026, ending a lengthy wait for a Chiefs player to reach double figures within a single year. His achievement highlights his growing influence at Amakhosi and offers fresh encouragement to supporters who have waited for greater consistency in the club’s attack. Duba’s progress also reflects the opportunities he has taken as he continues to establish himself in the first team. Reaching this mark places him among a small group of Chiefs players who have delivered similar goalscoring numbers over the past several seasons.

According to statistics from OptaJabu, Duba is the first Amakhosi player since Castro to reach 10 goals in a calendar year. Castro achieved the same milestone in 2018, setting a standard that no Chiefs player managed to match for several seasons. Although the club has had several attacking players leading its scoring charts since then, none managed to reach the same total. Duba’s achievement therefore carries significance beyond his personal statistics. It also highlights how difficult Chiefs have found it to produce a consistent source of goals across different campaigns.

The numbers from recent seasons show how the goalscoring responsibility has shifted between different players at Kaizer Chiefs. Samir Nurkovic came close to reaching double figures in 2019 when he scored nine goals during the calendar year. His contribution made him one of the club’s most important attacking players at the time, but he fell one goal short of matching Castro’s achievement. Other forwards and attacking players have also had productive periods without reaching the 10-goal mark. The figures underline the challenge Amakhosi have faced in finding a player capable of maintaining a strong scoring record throughout a calendar year.

Ashley du Preez came closest to ending the drought before Duba reached the milestone. The forward scored nine goals in 2023 and looked capable of becoming the next Chiefs player to reach double figures. However, he finished just short of the target. His return showed that the club still had players capable of producing important attacking contributions, although consistency remained a concern. Duba has now gone one step further by reaching 10 goals and restoring a milestone that had been missing from the club’s recent history.

The 2024 calendar year proved particularly difficult for Chiefs in front of goal. Three players, Chivaviro, Ashley du Preez and Mduduzi Shabalala, shared the club’s top-scorer honours with only six goals each. That figure reflected the attacking struggles Amakhosi experienced during a challenging period. Rather than having one forward consistently leading the scoring charts, the responsibility was spread between several players. The lack of a regular goalscorer made it difficult for the team to build attacking momentum and turn performances into positive results. Duba’s current achievement provides a clear contrast with that period.

His progress is also important because he represents a younger generation of players looking to make their mark at one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs. Scoring 10 goals in a calendar year requires more than a few strong performances. It demands regular involvement, confidence in front of goal and the ability to take advantage of opportunities across different competitions. Duba’s return suggests that he is becoming a more influential attacking option for Chiefs. It also gives the coaching staff another reason to trust his ability to contribute in important matches.

For Amakhosi, having a forward reach double figures could make a meaningful difference to the team’s attacking prospects. Clubs need reliable goalscorers who can provide a consistent threat rather than depending on occasional contributions from different players. Duba’s record gives Chiefs a player who can help carry that responsibility. His achievement does not mean that the club’s attacking problems have disappeared, but it offers evidence of progress. If he can maintain his current form, he could become an important figure in the team’s plans.

The comparison with Castro also gives the milestone added significance. The former Chiefs striker reached 10 goals in 2018 and remains the last player to have achieved that total within a calendar year before Duba. Several players have come close since then, including Nurkovic and Du Preez, but the target remained out of reach. Duba has now joined Castro in reaching a mark that highlights individual consistency and attacking contribution. His achievement also gives supporters a reason to take a closer interest in his development during the remainder of the campaign.

Duba’s 10-goal return is a personal milestone and an encouraging sign for Kaizer Chiefs. It ends a long wait for a double-digit calendar-year goalscorer and highlights the progress of a young forward who is becoming increasingly important to the team. The club will hope that his scoring form continues and that other attacking players can provide greater support. For Duba, the next challenge is to build on this achievement and turn his growing influence into even more goals. Reaching 10 goals has put his name in the club’s recent history, but maintaining that level of performance will determine how significant his contribution becomes.