FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution striker Kheli Dube understands what it means to be a goalscorer.
"It's a matter of taking your chances," Dube said.
Dube has applied this doctrine of seizing his opportunities on and off the field on his journey from Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to suburban Boston.
Dube grew up in the landlocked southern African country and featured for the country's youth national teams.
Instead of staying in his tumultuous homeland, Dube left to come over to the United States and play at perennial NAIA powerhouse Lindsay Wilson. Two years and 36 goals later, Dube earned a transfer move to NCAA Division I Coastal Carolina.
The move raised his stock with MLS scouts, especially when he earned the Big South Conference Player of the Year award last fall after scoring 11 goals despite missing his team's first five games.
Revs head coach Steve Nicol plucked Dube in the SuperDraft and gave him the opportunity to translate his game to the next level.
"It's a good adjustment for me," Dube said. "The guys have been here for a while now. I'm getting a few minutes. I'm getting on the field and I'm getting chances."
Dube entered the preseason as a distant thought in the race for time on the front line. The team boasted established stars Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman and promising young talents Adam Cristman and Kenny Mansally. But Noonan departed for Norway and Twellman suffered a knee injury, creating an opportunity to win playing time.
After a preseason in which he impressed observers with his ability to stretch the field, Dube moved up to third in the pecking order.
"It's just about working hard," Dube said. "I'm trying to get the respect from the senior players."
Dube has already earned that respect from his head coach. Nicol has sent Dube on as a substitute in three of the season's opening four contests.
"He's got pace and he's got quick feet," Nicol said. "He'll get the shot off quickly."
Dube nearly carved out a goal with that pace on Saturday against Colorado after he was sent free down the middle of the park, but he sent his shot straight at Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul.
After a trio of limited appearances (41 minutes over the three games) in which he only had a few minutes, Dube wants to use chances like that one to press his case for more playing time.
"Playing more minutes means more chances," Dube said.
While Dube hopes to convert his chances on the field, he is also keeping one eye on another important off-field task: getting his wife into the United States.
Dube married his wife Senzile in 2006 while at Costal Carolina. She remains back in Zimbabwe, waiting for the necessary paperwork to immigrate to the United States.
With the electoral chaos unfolding as current president Robert Mugabe clings to power after losing the most recent vote, Dube is concerned for his wife and other family members who remain in the country. The rookie striker said he monitors the situation there and waits for the final results from the election.
But Dube hopes the immigration will speed up now that he has a work visa to play in the United States, yielding the personal benefits of his professional success.
It would also mark yet another chance he has created and taken.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
