Durban City F.C. (2024)

{{short description|South African association football club}} {{For|the club that played in the NFL and disbanded in 1988|Durban City F.C.}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Use South African English|date=June 2012}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Durban City | image =Durban City FC.png | fullname = Durban City Football Club | nickname = Citizens | founded = {{Start date and age|1981|df=y}} as Maritzburg United<br>{{Start date and age|2024|df=y}} as Durban City Football Club | ground = Chatsworth Stadium<ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Niyanta |date=2024-08-19 |title=Chatsworth Stadium new home of rebranded Maritzburg United |url=https://durbanlocal.co.za/sport/chatsworth-stadium-new-home-of-rebranded-maritzburg-united-ab8c7caf-db27-4d48-a936-202f6a9ebec5 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=DurbanLocal |language=en-ZA}}</ref> | capacity = 22,000 | owner = | chairman = Farook Kadodia | manager = | league = South African Premiership | season = 2025–26 | website = {{URL|durbancityfc.com/}} | position = 8th of 16 }}

'''Durban City''' is a South African football club based in the city of Durban. Until August 2004, the club was called Maritzburg United, and was based in the city of Pietermaritzburg. In its first season under the new name, the club won promotion to the Premiership at the end of the 2024–25 National First Division season.

==History==

=== Federation Professional League=== The club was formed in 1981 and initially played in the Federation Professional League (FPL).<ref>{{Cite web |title=MARITZBURG UNITED TEAM OF CHOICE |url=http://www.maritzburgunited.co.za/10_History.htm |access-date=2023-08-09 |website=www.maritzburgunited.co.za |archive-date=10 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810230531/http://www.maritzburgunited.co.za/10_History.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Following the end of the FPL in December 1990, Maritzburg United was not one of the six FPL clubs going forward to play in the National Soccer League.

===Revival as Maritzburg United=== Talks to revive the club began in 2003, with Maritzburg United playing in the 2004–05 National First Division.<ref name='fp_born' />

In 2005, the club purchased the status of Tembisa Classic in order to play in the Premiership, playing under that name in the 2005–06 South African Premiership.<ref name='fp_born'>{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mthokozisi |date=May 6, 2026 |title=Born in struggle, crowned in glory: Farook Kadodia’s football revolution |url=https://farpost.co.za/2026/05/06/born-in-struggle-crowned-in-glory-farook-kadodias-football-revolution/ |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=FARPost |language=en-US}}</ref> The club was relegated in its second season in the top tier, finishing bottom of the 2006–07 South African Premiership.

It was immediately promoted, winning the 2007–08 National First Division, and then spent consecutive seasons from 2008 until 2023 in the Premiership, before finally being condemned to the playoffs on goal difference and suffering relegation from the 2022–23 South African Premiership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South Africa 2022/23 |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zaf2023.html |access-date=2026-05-06 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref>

===Move to Durban=== In August 2024, the club announced that it was changing its name to Durban City and moving from Pietermaritzburg to Chatsworth in Durban. After its relegation from the 2022–23 Premiership, the club was barred by the Msunduzi Local Municipality from using the Harry Gwala Stadium, which was reserved for Royal AM and was forced to play its home games at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, far from its fan base. With the club incurring an extra R60 000 in expenses for each home game as a result, the club decided to rebase in Durban.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sithole |first=Sinethemba |date=2024-08-09 |title=Maritzburg United to be rebranded to Durban City, PSL approves |url=https://farpost.co.za/2024/08/09/maritzburg-united-to-be-rebranded-to-durban-city-psl-approves/ |access-date=2024-08-11 |website=FARPost |language=en-ZA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ngidi |first=Njabulo |title=How Msunduzi Municipality's malaise led to death of Maritzburg United |url=https://www.news24.com/sport/soccer/psl/how-msunduzi-municipalitys-malaise-led-to-maritzburg-uniteds-death-we-are-terribly-disappointed-20240820 |access-date=2024-08-21 |website=Sport |language=en-US}}</ref>

The club appointed veteran coach Gavin Hunt prior to the start of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambley |first=Garrin |date=2025-07-10 |title=Gavin Hunt named Durban City coach: His PSL track record |url=https://www.thesouthafrican.com/sport/soccer/psl-south-africa/gavin-hunt-named-durban-city-coach-his-psl-track-record-breaking/ |access-date=2025-07-11 |website=The South African |language=en-ZA}}</ref> With the club in mid-table, Hunt was dismissed, purportedly for not developing youth players according to the owner's wishes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dube |first=Mthokozisi |date=December 3, 2025 |title=What led to Gavin Hunt's abrupt Durban City departure |url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/12/03/what-led-to-gavin-hunts-abrupt-durban-city-departure/ |access-date=2025-12-03 |website=Farpost |language=en-US}}</ref>

The club won the 2025–26 Nedbank Cup after a come from behind win against TS Galaxy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-05-02 |title=Durban City win first-ever title with Nedbank Cup triumph |url=https://supersport.com/football/news/363270ce-6b7c-4adf-9697-2373d0476c8c/durban-city-win-first-ever-title-with-nedbank-cup-triumph |access-date=2026-05-03 |website=SuperSport |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours==

* Nedbank Cup: 2025–26 * National First Division: 2007–08, 2024–25

==Club records== *Most starts: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Shu-Aib Walters & {{flagicon|South Africa}} Peter Petersen 107 *Most goals: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Fadlu Davids 20 *Most starts in a season: {{flagicon|South Africa}} Shu-Aib Walters & {{flagicon|South Africa}} Mario Booysen 35 (2012/13) *Most goals in a season: {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Cuthbert Malajila 13 (2012/13) *Record victory: 4–0 vs Bloemfontein Celtic (12/01/18, PSL) *Record defeat: 0–7 vs SuperSport United (14/10/11, PSL) Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kickoff.com/psl-clubs/maritzburg-united|title=Maritzburg United|publisher=Kickoff.com|access-date=2013-11-17|archive-date=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131031124303/http://www.kickoff.com/psl-clubs/maritzburg-united|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Record===

==== Federation Professional League ==== * 1989 – 10th * 1990 – 7th

==== National First Division ==== * 2004–05 – 5th

==== Premiership ==== *2005–06 – 14th (as Tembisa Classic) *2006–07 – 16th (relegated)

==== National First Division ==== * 2007–08 – 1st Coastal Stream, Champions (promoted)

==== Premiership ==== *2008–09 – 12th *2009–10 – 11th *2010–11 – 12th *2011–12 – 11th *2012–13 – 11th *2013–14 – 10th *2014–15 – 8th *2015–16 – 14th *2016–17 – 7th *2017–18 – 4th *2018–19 – 15th *2019–20 – 7th *2020–21 – 13th *2021–22 – 12th *2022–23 – 15th (relegated)

==== National First Division ==== * 2023–24 – 4th * 2024–25 – 1st (promoted)

==== Premiership ==== * 2025–26 – 8th

==Current squad== {{section unsourced|date=February 2026}} {{Updated|20 September 2025}} {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no= 1|nat=RSA|pos=GK|name=Darren Keet}} {{Fs player|no= 2|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Siphamandla Nzuza}} {{Fs player|no= 3|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Siphelele Mthembu}} {{Fs player|no= 4|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Fezile Gcaba|other={{small|on loan from Richards Bay}}}} {{Fs player|no= 5|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Siphamandla Ncanana}} {{Fs player|no= 6|nat=NGA|pos=MF|name=Collins Nwoburuoke}} {{Fs player|no= 7|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Haashim Domingo}} {{Fs player|no= 8|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Athini Jodwana}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Samkelo Maseko}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Saziso Magawana}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Odwa Nyulu}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=NAM|pos=FW|name=Joslin Kamatuka}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Bokang Mokwena}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=RSA|pos=GK|name=Ayanda Mtshali}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Kyle Jurgens|other={{small|on loan from Stellenbosch}}}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Brooklyn Poggenpoel}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=RSA|pos=FW|name=Letsie Koapeng}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=COD|pos=FW|name=Jean Lwamba}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Liam de Kock}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Terrence Mashego|other={{small|on loan from Mamelodi Sundowns}}}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Thabo Nodada}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Taahir Goedeman|other={{small|on loan from Cape Town City}}}} {{Fs player|no=30|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Mfanafuthi Mkhize}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat=GHA|pos=GK|name=Fredrick Asare}} {{Fs player|no=34|nat=RSA|pos=GK|name=Aden Dreyer}} {{Fs player|no=35|nat=RSA|pos=MF|name=Luphumlo Sifumba}} {{Fs player|no=50|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Nkanyiso Madonsela}} {{Fs player|no=56|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Tshanini Falakhe}} {{Fs player|no=99|nat=RSA|pos=DF|name=Katlego Maphathe}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=ZIM|pos=MF|name=Ben Musaka}} {{Fs player|no=|nat=GHA|pos=MF|name=Victor Bakah}} {{Fs end}}

==Notable former coaches== *{{flagicon|RSA}} Trott Moloto (2004) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Boebie Solomons (1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005) *{{flagicon|SRB}} Kosta Papić (1 July 2006 – 20 Dec 2006) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Steve Komphela (1 Jan 2007 – 9 Jan 2007) *{{flagicon|SRB}} Vladislav Herić (10 Jan 2007 – 6 March 2007) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Mlungisi Ngubane (8 March 2007 – 30 June 2007) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Ian Palmer (1 July 2007 – 10 July 2008) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Gordon Igesund (15 July 2008 – 15 Nov 2009) *{{flagicon|GER}} Ernst Middendorp (16 Nov 2009 – 12 March 2011) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Ian Palmer (14 March 2011 – 13 Jan 2012) *{{flagicon|GER}} Ernst Middendorp (19 Jan 2012 – 10 Oct 2013) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Clinton Larsen (15 Oct 2013 – 6 Jan 2014) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Steve Komphela (6 Jan 2014 – 17 June 2015) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Clive Barker (25 Sep 2015 – 1 Dec 2015) *{{flagicon|GER}} Ernst Middendorp (28 Dec 2015 – 28 Nov 2016) *{{flagicon|MOZ}} Roger De Sa (10 Jan 2017 – 23 Mar 2017) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Gavin Hunt (2025 – 2025) *{{flagicon|RSA}} Sinethemba Badela (2025 – 2026)<ref name='fp_badela'>{{Cite web |last=Munyai |first=Ofhani |date=December 26, 2025 |title=Durban City appoint Hunt replacement and welcome back Middendorp |url=https://farpost.co.za/2025/12/26/durban-city-appoint-hunt-replacement-and-welcome-back-middendorp/ |access-date=2025-12-28 |website=Farpost |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Raophala |first=Mauwane |date=February 9, 2026 |title=Durban City FC explain Sinethemba Badela's shocking departure |url=https://farpost.co.za/2026/02/09/durban-city-fc-explain-sinethemba-badelas-shocking-departure/ |access-date=2026-02-09 |website=FARPost ZA |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.maritzburgunited.co.za}} *[http://www.psl.co.za Premier Soccer League] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20160607223223/http://www.psl.co.za/team.asp?team=maritzburg PSL Club Info] (archived 7 June 2016) *[http://www.safa.net South African Football Association] *[http://cafonline.com Confederation of African Football]

{{Premier Soccer League}}

Category:Durban City F.C. (2024) Category:Association football clubs established in 1979 Category:Pietermaritzburg Category:Premier Soccer League clubs Category:Soccer clubs in Durban Category:1979 establishments in South Africa