Kheli Dube's Twitter message on June 25 has started rumors that the Chicago Fire have released him. The forward uses his full name, Mkhokheli Dube, on Twittter, and the account is linked on the team's official roster page. However, the Chicago Fire have not confirmed the release of Dube.
The Message from Kheli Dube
On June 25, Kheli Dube posted a message on his official Twitter account. He simply stated, "Thanks n [sic] Goodbye Chicago[,] it's been great. On to the next one." The goodbye in his message has led many fans to believe that the Chicago Fire have released Dube and are simply delaying the official statement. This is not the first time that Dube has turned to his Twitter account to make an announcement. In Jan., he shared that he was signed by the Chicago Fire.
Brief Stay with the Chicago Fire
Kheli Dube was officially signed by the Chicago Fire in Jan. 2012. During his brief time with the team, he had no appearances or goals. Prior to his move to Chicago, Dube spent several years with the New England Revolution. He also had experience with the Zimbabwe national team, Michigan Bucks, Delaware Dynasty and Highlanders.
Although he did not play during the regular MLS season, Dube was part of the preseason training. The team probably expected him to bring power as a forward and help revitalize the roster. Unfortunately, this did not occur, and some fans had their doubts about his success prior to the start of the 2012 season.
Making Room for New Additions
If the Twitter message from Kheli Dube is correct, then the Chicago Fire are obviously making room on the roster for new additions. The MLS transfer window is approaching and will begin on June 27. The Fire have been rumored to be searching for a strong striker. The team has been linked to several international players, but nothing has been confirmed at this point. If Dube is being released by Chicago, he will probably be followed by other players. I doubt that the team will settle on removing only one player from the roster.
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Lana follows MLS, UEFA and FIFA. She has been a faithful fan of the Chicago Fire since 1998. Follow @Lana_Bandoim on Twitter.
