Durban Cit celebrate winning the 2026 Nedbank Cup final after beating TS Galaxy 2-1 in Polokwane on Saturday night.
Image: BackpagePix
Durban City FC interim coach Sifiso ‘Pitso’ Dladla has emphasised the importance of collective effort after guiding the club to a historic Nedbank Cup triumph, capping a remarkable debut season in the Betway Premiership.
Dladla took over earlier this year after the departure of Sinethemba Badela, stepping into a challenging environment but quickly stabilising the team.
Since his appointment, Durban City have experienced a dramatic turnaround, lifting their first major trophy while retaining seventh place on the league table with four matches remaining in the season.
The victory against TS Galaxy represents more than silverware. It marks a defining milestone for a club still shaping its identity after relocating to Durban and earning promotion from the Motsepe Foundation Championship last season.
In just one campaign in the top flight, Durban City have transformed from newcomers into genuine competitors.
“When you are appointed as an interim head coach, it’s more of a collective effort. We work together with coach Ashraf Hendricks, Ronwen Fernandes and our goalkeeper coach. We discuss a lot of things; we make decisions together; we plan together,” Dladla said.
“I’m here representing them, but we recognise every component, especially in the technical team.
“We work hard; we sit; we discuss; we argue; but at the end of the day it is about the collective, not about the individuals.”
That collective approach has been central to Durban City’s rise, with the technical team’s cohesion translating into consistency on the pitch at crucial stages of the season.
Beyond domestic success, the Nedbank Cup triumph has also secured continental football for the club.
Durban City will now compete in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup, a significant step forward in their rapid development and an opportunity to test themselves against African opposition.
“It was important for us to win this cup, considering that we had just relocated to Durban last season, when we got promoted from the second division to the elite league,” Dladla added.
“Our first season in the Betway Premiership, and we can win this magnificent cup; for us as a team, it means a lot for the identity and growing the Durban City name.
“It also means a lot for the chairman and the board of directors; it’s something they have been talking about - that we are the newcomers in the city and now we’re representing the province.
“Like you mentioned, playing in Africa, indirectly, that has now meant we’re representing South Africa, so it’s something that means a lot to us as a team, holistically.”
Despite the celebrations, attention quickly shifts back to league duties. Durban City face Marumo Gallants FC at the Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium on Tuesday as they continue their push for a top-eight finish.
With momentum building and belief growing, Durban City now stand on the edge of completing a remarkable first season — one defined by unity, resilience, and rapid progress under Dladla’s leadership.