“The Secret Sauce”: Hendricks Reveals Why Durban City Is Defying Relegation Odds
Durban City assistant coach Achraf Hendricks has pulled back the curtain on the “behind-the-scenes” success that has propelled the club to fifth in the league and a spot in the Nedbank Cup semi-finals.
Hendricks attributed their impressive form to the club’s solid foundational structure.
Despite changing coaches twice this season, City currently sits fifth in the Betway Premiership standings, boasting 35 points after 22 matches.
For a club promoted only at the start of last season, this is no small feat; typically, newly promoted teams are primary candidates for relegation.
City has defied those odds. In addition to their league position, they are preparing to host “giant-killers” Casric Stars in the Nedbank Cup semi-final next weekend.
Continuity Over Change
Hendricks, formerly with La Masia in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, was promoted in February to assist caretaker coach Pitso Dladla.
While many coaches might be tempted to overhaul tactics, Hendricks has focused on supporting the existing framework.
“We are blessed because we have a good team,” Hendricks told Sportswire at the AmaZulu Performance Symposium in Umhlanga on Saturday.
“It’s not just about us coming in; we are fortunate to have a team that is well-structured and well put together. The trick was not to change too much—follow the structure, follow what needs to be done, and the results followed.”
The Journey to Durban
Hendricks, a former Moroka Swallows defender, originally joined as the DStv Diski Challenge (DDC) coach in December following the departure of Daine Klate. Klate’s exit followed that of Gavin Hunt, who was sacked earlier that month.
After Sinethamba Badela also departed in February, the club asked Hendricks to pull double duty, assisting Dladla with the senior team while maintaining his role with the DDC side.
Hendricks recalled his swift move to the club:
“I was coaching at La Masia, and we were doing quite well. I received a call from [former technical director] Ernst Middendorp regarding the DDC role. The next minute, the GM [Younus Kadodia] called, and by December, I was in Durban. It has been a very pleasant three or four months—I couldn’t ask for more.”
