Pitso Dladla has stepped in (again) and delivered (again) as he has guided Durban City into the Nedbank Cup semi-final and a league Top4, confirming the club stays in the top flight.
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The next few weeks could define the season for Durban City FC as they prepare for crucial tests in both the Betway Premiership and the Nedbank Cup.
With Kaizer Chiefs up next in the league and a tricky cup semi-final against giant slayers Casric Stars FC, City are about to discover just how demanding the road to greatness can be.
Chiefs host City at FNB Stadium on Sunday afternoon, 3.30pm kick-off.
it is the club's first season as Durban City in the Premiership, yet few clubs would enter this period with the same level of belief that currently surrounds the KwaZulu-Natal outfit.
Much of that confidence stems from the remarkable work done by coach Pitso Dladla and chairman Farouk Kadodia.
Dladla and Kadodia are the only two consistent heads, after two coaches in Gavin Hunt and Snethemba Badela plus a technical director — an experienced Ernst Middendorp, have been let go in the past few months.
Dladla and Kadodia though, guided the club through what could have been a turbulent campaign. The foundation for this rise was laid by Hunt, who helped the club transition into life among South Africa’s elite.
When Hunt departed midway, many observers feared the momentum City had built would fade under the weight of expectation. Instead, the opposite happened.
Rather than buckle under pressure, City have shown the same resilience that defined their time in the National First Division. The club has revealed its true character when it mattered most - when their backs were against the wall.
Their performances throughout the season have been particularly impressive considering the competition within KwaZulu-Natal. City have managed to outperform their provincial rivals, as they head to the weekend action above fifth-placed AmaZulu who host another KZN side in Richards Bay.
Currently sitting fourth in the PSL table, City are navigating what could best be described as deep waters for a club still relatively new to the division. Yet their consistency suggests they belong among the league’s most competitive sides.
A second season in the PSL in now certain, and based on their performances, even the Top 8 is almost a realistic target. Stability, once the main objective, has already been achieved. Now the conversation has shifted.
With a Nedbank Cup semi-final looming and league momentum still intact, the prospect of silverware is no longer a distant dream. For a club that only recently stepped onto the big stage, lifting a major trophy would represent a historic achievement.
The Nedbank Cup brings that first real opportunity and Casric stand in the way of their first final.
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter with focus on motorsport for Independent Media and coordinator of the social media channel The Clutch