Da Cruz sees Bafana Bafana potential in Duba, but stresses need for consistency

 Da Cruz was speaking after an emphatic 3-0 victory over TS Galaxy in the Carling Knockout at FNB Stadium last night, where Duba scored a hat-trick to send Chiefs to the quarterfinals. The 22-year-old striker has now scored six goals in seven matches in all competitions, and Da Cruz does not doubt that the young man has got huge potential to even make Bafana head coach Pitso Mosimane’s team.

"I am very happy for Duba; he is a young player who sometimes has a lot of ups and downs, so he must improve his consistency. He is a young player who is very good, and 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 and listen to the coaches, and maybe if he does this, he can become a player for Bafana Bafana," said Da Cruz.

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It was a game of two halves for Amakhosi, after huffing and puffing in the first half, they returned strongly in the second half, and Da Cruz was happy to see his team progress to the quarterfinals following an improved showing after the break.

Da Cruz was also happy to welcome back Chiefs’ reliable left-footed centre-back Rushwin Dortley to the pitch, after he was sidelined by a knee injury for a year and seven months, since March last year. Dortley, who underwent two operations on the same knee during this period, played a full 90 minutes, and Da Cruz says he also showed his quality and reveals why they had to be patient with him.