Pitso Dladla, interim coach of Durban City with his opposite Bernard Parker, of TS Galaxy during the 2026 Nedbank Cup Final Press Conference at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Thursday.
Image: BackpagePix
IF for nothing else than the eventual cup winner, the 2026 Nedbank Cup will be remembered for its "underdogs' tournament" tag.
Ahead of the final between Durban City and TS Galaxy at Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday night (6pm kick-off), it perhaps makes sense to bestow that tag upon City for at least three reasons:
This is the Durbanites’ first season since their promotion to the Betway Premiership.
Durban City are searching for their first-ever cup title in the Premier Soccer League (PSL), despite having reached a final against Free State Stars during their time under the Maritzburg United badge.
The coaches — and this is where debate is imminent — as Durban City’s interim coach, Pitso Dladla, does not boast the glamorous professional playing career of his opposite number, Bernard Parker, who will be leading the Galaxy dugout.
How Parker came to lead Galaxy in the final:
Galaxy’s decision to release coach Adnan Berganovic after an 11-game winless run saw the reins handed to former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker Parker only recently.
This is Parker’s first opportunity coaching in the top tier. What he lacks in coaching tenure, he surely makes up for with the wealth of experience gained playing under various managers during his lengthy international career.
Speaking at Galaxy’s press conference on Tuesday, Parker said: “I think the universe designed it. It’s by God’s grace. Nobody expected that I would be in this situation – it came as a shock. People expected something different regarding who should be in charge for the Nedbank Cup final.”
Galaxy are chasing their second Nedbank Cup title, and it remains a statement of pride that they won the Nedbank Cup as underdogs beating the mighty Kaizer Chiefs in 2019.
Galaxy’s players are visibly buoyed by having a coach of Parker’s pedigree for the final.
“It is a good thing we have someone like Bernard Parker who has won so many finals," said TS Galaxy stalwart Mlungisi Mbunjana of his former teammate. "He’s sharing his experiences and the things that worked for him and his teams. We are trying to grasp as much as possible from that.
“It is unfortunate that such things cchanging coaches) happen and those tough decisions have to be made. You just have to accept it and move forward as quickly as possible. It’s a matter of hoping the changes yield results.
"He’s been in the game for so long; he didn't only play overseas, he came back and dominated here. He was my teammate, we have a great relationship, and he helps me a lot.”
Why Dladla is capable of an upset:
On the opposite bench, it is also Dladla’s first time leading a team in the top flight. While he does not possess the professional playing experience of the 2010 FIFA World Cup legend, he arguably holds more coaching experience.
Over the years, he helped promote Uthongathi FC to the First Division, served as assistant coach at Richards Bay FC, and deputised for Simo Dladla when they guided Durban City to the top tier last season.
And with that, it seems there is more at stake than the R7 million in Polokwane on Saturday.