Durban City F.C. (2024)

Durban City is a South African soccer club based in the city of Durban. They were previously called Maritzburg United, and were based in the city of Pietermaritzburg. They were promoted to the Premiership at the end of the 2024–25 National First Division season.

Durban City

Full name	Durban City Football Club
Nickname(s)	Citizens
Founded	1981; 44 years ago (1981) as Maritzburg United 2024; 1 year ago (2024) as Durban City Football Club
Ground	Chatsworth Stadium[1]
Capacity	22,000
Chairman	Farook Kadodia
Manager	Gavin Hunt [2]
League	Betway Premiership
2024–25	1st of 16, champions (promoted)
Website	durbancityfc.com

For the club that played in the NFL and disbanded in 1988, see Durban City F.C.

History

The club was formed in 1981 and initially played in the Federation Professional League.^[3]

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 their relegation from the 2022–23 Premiership, they were barred by the Msunduzi Local Municipality from using the Harry Gwala Stadium, which was reserved for Royal AM, and were forced to play their home games at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban, far from their fan base. With the club incurring an extra R60 000 in expenses for each home game as a result, the club decided to rebase themselves in Durban.^[4][5]

Honours

National First Division

• Champions: 2007–08, 2024–25

Club records

• 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:^[6]

Record

Federation Professional League

• 1989 – 10th
• 1990 – 7th

National First Division

• 2004–05 – 5th

Premiership

• 2005–06 – 14th
• 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)

Notable former coaches

• 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)