After being forced to dump Maritzburg United brand he so loved and put everything into City, chairperson Farook Kadodia has been rewarded for not turning his back on football but rather relocated to eThekwini.
This after his coastal city club defied the odds to claim the Nedbank Cup title by beating TS Galaxy 2-1 at Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane last night.
The win also ended KwaZulu-Natal’s 17-year trophy drought.
City came from a goal down to win the final after goals from Mfanafuthi Mkhize and Jean Lwamba Lubumba, who redeemed himself after scoring an own goal to put Galaxy ahead at the break.
The last time a KZN side won a trophy in the Premiership was in 2009 when Golden Arrows lifted the MTN8 cup, and Durban had the weight of ending that drought and didn’t disappoint.
The title is also their first after they were promoted to the Premiership this season and they changed from Maritzburg United to City.
City came back with more energy in the second half as they searched for an equaliser, and it was not long before they levelled matters from an unlikely source, defender Mkhize, who slotted home from an empty net
After they created history by becoming the first Motsepe Foundation Championship side to win this competition when they stunned Kaizer Chiefs 1-0 in 2019, Galaxy were searching for their second title, but it was not to be.
It was a match where Galaxy interim coach Bernard Parker played the entire game in the final for Amakhosi and was looking to be on the winning side with the Rockets this time but ended up on the losing side again.
For the Citizens, several players in their squad had experience in major cup finals. Midfielder Haashim Domingo and goalkeeper Darren Keet were among those who have won trophies, and the club was looking at them to provide that crucial experience and help them win this title.
The final came at a time when both teams were struggling for form in the league. Galaxy had gone 10 matches without a victory, while City had only won once in their last six matches.
Trevor Mokwena and captain Siphamandla Ncanana returned to the City starting line-up, while the Rockets were unchanged from the side that started the goalless draw against Magesi in their last match.
City were in control as they looked for an early goal and had chances to break the ice but could not take them in the first half. Terrence Mashego did well to pick out Jean Lwamba, who sent his header over the crossbar from six yards out.
It took some time for the Rockets to get into the game, as they had to wait until three minutes before the half-hour mark for their first chance. Mpho Mvelase sent a delightful ball, only for Victory Letsoalo to balloon his efforts with only Keet to beat.
The half became scrappy, with both sides guilty of giving away possession. As the match progressed, the Rockets were slowly starting to find their rhythm and nearly opened the scoring, but Victor Letsoalo ballooned his shot over the bar after a brilliant move by the club.
It was Galaxy who opened the scoring two minutes before the interval through an own goal by Lubumba from a scramble on the goal line after the Durban defence failed to clear from the corner and went into the interval with a slender lead.
City came back with more energy in the second half as they searched for an equaliser, and it was not long before they levelled matters from an unlikely source, defender Mkhize, who slotted home from an empty net.
City, who were lively in the second half, doubled their lead when Lubumba capitalised on an error after Mlungisi Mbujana failed to clear the ball to slot home the second. Galaxy tried to find the equaliser, but Durban City defended well for their win.
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