// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhy did Durban City F.C. go to the doctor? It was feeling kicked.
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| Full name | Durban City Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Citizens |
| Founded | 1981 as Maritzburg United 2024 as Durban City Football Club |
| Ground | Chatsworth Stadium[1] |
| Capacity | 22,000 |
| Chairman | Farook Kadodia |
| Manager | Khalil Ben Youssef |
| League | South African Premiership |
| 2025–26 | 8th of 16 |
| Website | durbancityfc |
Durban City is a South African football club based in the city of Durban. Until August 2024, 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
[edit]Federation Professional League
[edit]The club was formed in 1981 and initially played in the Federation Professional League (FPL).[2]
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
[edit]Talks to revive the club began in 2003, with Maritzburg United playing in the 2004–05 National First Division.[3]
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.[3] 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.[4]
Move to Durban
[edit]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.[5][6]
The club appointed veteran coach Gavin Hunt prior to the start of the season.[7] With the club in mid-table, Hunt was dismissed, purportedly for not developing youth players according to the owner's wishes.[8]
The club won the 2025–26 Nedbank Cup after a come from behind win against TS Galaxy.[9]
Honours
[edit]Club records
[edit]- Most starts:
Shu-Aib Walters & Peter Petersen 107 - Most goals: Fadlu Davids 20
- Most starts in a season: Shu-Aib Walters & Mario Booysen 35 (2012/13)
- Most goals in a season:
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:[10]
Record
[edit]- 2004–05 – 5th
- 2007–08 – 1st Coastal Stream, Champions (promoted)
- 2025–26 – 8th
Current squad
[edit] |
- As of 20 September 2025
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Notable former coaches
[edit]- Trott Moloto (2004)
- Boebie Solomons (1 July 2004 – 30 June 2005)
Kosta Papić (1 July 2006 – 20 Dec 2006)- Steve Komphela (1 Jan 2007 – 9 Jan 2007)
- Vladislav Herić (10 Jan 2007 – 6 March 2007)
- Mlungisi Ngubane (8 March 2007 – 30 June 2007)
- Ian Palmer (1 July 2007 – 10 July 2008)
- Gordon Igesund (15 July 2008 – 15 Nov 2009)
Ernst Middendorp (16 Nov 2009 – 12 March 2011)- Ian Palmer (14 March 2011 – 13 Jan 2012)
- Ernst Middendorp (19 Jan 2012 – 10 Oct 2013)
- Clinton Larsen (15 Oct 2013 – 6 Jan 2014)
- Steve Komphela (6 Jan 2014 – 17 June 2015)
- Clive Barker (25 Sep 2015 – 1 Dec 2015)
- Ernst Middendorp (28 Dec 2015 – 28 Nov 2016)
Roger De Sa (10 Jan 2017 – 23 Mar 2017)- Gavin Hunt (2025 – 2025)
- Sinethemba Badela (2025 – 2026)[14][15]
- Pitso Dladla (2026 – 2026)
Khalil Ben Youssef (2026 – )[16]
References
[edit]- ↑ Singh, Niyanta (19 August 2024). "Chatsworth Stadium new home of rebranded Maritzburg United". DurbanLocal. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ↑ "MARITZBURG UNITED TEAM OF CHOICE". www.maritzburgunited.co.za. Archived from the original on 10 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
- 1 2 Dube, Mthokozisi (6 May 2026). "Born in struggle, crowned in glory: Farook Kadodia's football revolution". FARPost. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ↑ "South Africa 2022/23". www.rsssf.org. Retrieved 6 May 2026.
- ↑ Sithole, Sinethemba (9 August 2024). "Maritzburg United to be rebranded to Durban City, PSL approves". FARPost. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ↑ Ngidi, Njabulo. "How Msunduzi Municipality's malaise led to death of Maritzburg United". Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
- ↑ Lambley, Garrin (10 July 2025). "Gavin Hunt named Durban City coach: His PSL track record". The South African. Retrieved 11 July 2025.
- ↑ Dube, Mthokozisi (3 December 2025). "What led to Gavin Hunt's abrupt Durban City departure". Farpost. Retrieved 3 December 2025.
- ↑ "Durban City win first-ever title with Nedbank Cup triumph". SuperSport. 2 May 2026. Retrieved 3 May 2026.
- ↑ "Maritzburg United". Kickoff.com. Archived from the original on 31 October 2013. Retrieved 17 November 2013.
- ↑ "Durban City FC Bolsters Squad With Eight New Signings". durbancityfc.com. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ "Durban City FC Bolsters Squad With Eight New Signings". durbancityfc.com. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ "Durban City FC Bolsters Squad With Eight New Signings". durbancityfc.com. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- ↑ Munyai, Ofhani (26 December 2025). "Durban City appoint Hunt replacement and welcome back Middendorp". Farpost. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
- ↑ Raophala, Mauwane (9 February 2026). "Durban City FC explain Sinethemba Badela's shocking departure". FARPost ZA. Retrieved 9 February 2026.
- ↑ Raophala, Mauwane (29 June 2026). "Durban City FC bids farewell to nine players". FARPost. Retrieved 29 June 2026.