Dladla On Nedbank Cup Final And KZN Football Legacy
Durban City coach Pitso Dladla believes his side’s resilience and composure under pressure have prepared them perfectly for the Nedbank Cup final against TS Galaxy at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.
City’s journey to the final has been nothing short of dramatic, with the KwaZulu-Natal outfit showing remarkable determination in every round of the competition.
The 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship champions began their campaign by eliminating Chippa United in the round of 32 via a penalty shoot-out, before repeating the feat against Upington City in the last 16.
Their quarter-final clash against Golden Arrows followed a similar script, as they once again triumphed on penalties despite playing with 10 men for more than 40 minutes. In the semi-final, City displayed another side to their game, grinding out a 1-0 victory over Casric Stars to secure their place in the final.
Darren Keet saved four penalties across those three shootouts, making him an “X-factor” that Galaxy must account for if the game goes to 120 minutes.
Reflecting on this demanding path, Dladla emphasised how these experiences have shaped his team’s mentality heading into the biggest match of their campaign.
“I think if you look at all the rounds we’ve played, our character has really been tested, and we’ve managed to win those games,” he said.
“We’ve been involved in three penalty shoot-outs and came through each time.
“We’ve also had to face teams from the Motsepe Foundation Championship, and against Golden Arrows we played with one man down for more than 40 minutes and still managed to win.
“So, that shows our character has been tested in different ways in different rounds, and that has prepared us very well for the final.”
City now face a formidable opponent in TS Galaxy, a side that famously lifted the trophy in 2019 after defeating Kaizer Chiefs while still competing in the Motsepe Foundation Championship—a reminder of the competition’s unpredictability.
Dladla also highlighted the broader significance of the occasion following a morale-boosting visit from KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Mntomuhle Khawula.
“For us, as Durban City, this final is bigger than the team. It’s a final where we represent the city of Durban and the province of KwaZulu-Natal,” he added.
“We were given a send-off by the MEC, Honourable Mr Mntomuhle Khawula, to show us that we are not alone in this journey—the entire province is behind us.
“He made it clear that he will do everything possible to make the New Peter Mokaba Stadium feel like Chatsworth Stadium, where we can feel the presence of our supporters.”
Durban City’s appearance in the final also carries broader significance for football in KwaZulu-Natal. The last time a team from the province reached a major final was in 2022, when AmaZulu fell short in the MTN8 final against Orlando Pirates.
The last triumph dates back to 2009, when Golden Arrows lifted the same competition.
Now, with momentum, belief, and the backing of an entire province, Durban City will be eager to end that long wait and write a new chapter in KwaZulu-Natal football history.
