“Sort Our House”: Dladla Defiant As Durban City Slump Ahead Of Nedbank Cup Final
Durban City coach Pitso Dladla remains calm despite his side suffering three consecutive defeats, insisting that once the club “sorts out its house,” they will return to the form that has seen them punch above their weight this season.
The Durban-based outfit fell 5-2 to Magesi at Seshego Stadium this past weekend, following recent losses to title-chasers Mamelodi Sundowns and Golden Arrows.
Despite the slump, City remains in a strong position, sitting sixth on the log with 35 points from 25 matches. Five or more points from their remaining five fixtures would likely guarantee a historic top-eight finish.
Focus on Friday Night
City will look to snap their losing streak when they host bottom-of-the-log Orbit College at Chatsworth Stadium this Friday night (19:30).
“The first thing is that we should not worry too much about other teams—we need to focus on ourselves,” said Dladla.
“The sooner we recover from these three defeats, the better for all of us. I believe that once we get through this period, we still have a strong chance of finishing in the top eight.
“Other teams are coming, but once we sort out our own issues, we’ll be in a better position. It’s about maintaining or improving where we are.”
One concern for City is their goal difference—they have conceded 22 goals, the same number they have scored this season.
There were, however, positives to take from the defeat, with Botswana international Jean Lwamba—recently signed from Tafic FC—leading the line effectively and scoring twice, his first goals in the PSL.
Chasing the MTN8 Home Advantage
With 15 points still available, Dladla—who took over in a caretaker role in February following the departure of Sinethemba Badela—emphasised the importance of finishing strongly, particularly with next season’s MTN8 in mind.
“As I’ve said, the goal is to finish in a strong top eight,” he explained.
“There are dynamics involved—if you finish in the top four, you get to play at home in the MTN8 next season, and any team would want that advantage.
“You also have to understand the structure of the draw: first plays eighth, second plays seventh. So when I say we want a strong top-eight finish, I’m referring to those factors.”
