History made: Durban City fight back to claim maiden Nedbank Cup title

Durban City FC etched their names into the history books on Saturday night, coming from behind to defeat TS Galaxy 2-1 in the Nedbank Cup final at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium.

The victory marks a landmark moment for South African football, as Durban City became the first-ever club from KwaZulu-Natal to lift the Nedbank Cup since the tournament’s inception in 1971. Despite the low attendance in Polokwane, the significance of the achievement was not lost on a club that has endured a tumultuous campaign.

For Durban City, this was redemption for the heartbreak of 2018, when the club—then competing as Maritzburg United—lost in the final to Free State Stars.

Interim Battle on the Bench in the Nedbank Cup Final

The tactical battle featured two coaches leading in temporary capacities. Bernard Parker took charge of TS Galaxy just seven days prior to the final, while Pitso Dladla steered the Durban City ship—the club’s third coach of a season that also saw Gavin Hunt and Sinethemba Badela at the helm.

Interestingly, this was Parker’s second Nedbank Cup heartbreak; the last time he was involved in a final was as a player for Kaizer Chiefs, when they lost to TS Galaxy—the team he is now coaching.

The match began with a series of stop-start exchanges, as injuries to Junior Zindoga and Seluleko Mahlambi disrupted the early rhythm. TS Galaxy looked the more threatening side, with Victor Letsoalo coming close with a header that was saved by the veteran Darren Keet.

The deadlock was broken in the 43rd minute in unfortunate fashion for Durban City. A dangerous cross intended for Letsoalo was inadvertently turned into his own net by striker Jean Lwamba, giving the “Rockets” a 1-0 lead heading into the break.

Dladla reacted at halftime, introducing Luphumlo Sifumba for Haashim Domingo, a move that would prove decisive.

Durban City found their equalizer in the 58th minute. Following a well-delivered set piece, Mfanafuthi Mkhize reacted quickest in the six-yard box to smash a right-footed shot into the roof of the net, breathing new life into the KZN outfit.

The turnaround was completed in the 71st minute, and it was a moment of pure redemption for Lwamba. After his earlier own-goal, the forward latched onto a precise pass from Sifumba and curled a clinical right-footed strike into the top corner, sending the Durban City bench into raptures.

TS Galaxy searched desperately for an equalizer, with Igor Salatiel Silva seeing a 73rd-minute header saved by Keet. Bernard Parker introduced Siphamandla Ngwenya late on to bolster the attack, but Durban City’s defense, despite losing Fezile Gcaba and Jean Lwamba to late injuries, held firm through a frantic final ten minutes.

Continental Prize and R7 Million Payday

The final whistle confirmed a historic double for Durban City. Not only do they take home the R7 million prize money, but they have also secured a spot in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.

For a team that entered the final winless in their last four games and sitting in the bottom half of the league, this “cup-fighting spirit” has provided a silver lining to a challenging season, ending a decades-long drought for the province of KwaZulu-Natal.