No promises for Pitso Dladla despite Durban City resurgence

Dladla, a long-serving figure at the club dating back to their lower-division days, stepped into the role in February during the second half of the campaign and has since stabilised results and given the club a competitive edge. 

His impact has been significant, guiding City up the Betway Premiership table to sixth place and into the Nedbank Cup final, where they will face TS Galaxy next month.

City’s season has been marked by instability in the dugout. 

The Citizens began under experienced coach Gavin Hunt, before parting ways mid-season in favour of Sinethemba Badela, whose tenure lasted just two matches. Dladla was then appointed on an interim basis until the end of the campaign.

Despite the recent upturn, Kadodia insists no decisions have been made. 

Speaking to the public broadcaster, he said all technical team roles will be assessed at the end of the season in June, regardless of where the club finishes, stopping short of committing to Dladla beyond the current campaign.

“I cannot make comments about that [head coach position] at the moment because I had already made it clear that every technical team member will be reviewed at the end of the season. We are still going to stick to that process,” Kadodia explained. 

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For his part, Dladla has made no secret of his ambition to take the job on permanently but also cited that he would prioritise growth over personal glory.

Following their semi-final win against Casric Stars, he reiterated his desire to lead the team long-term and revealed plans to further his coaching qualifications, including completing his CAF badges to strengthen his candidacy.

Whether that will be enough to convince the club’s hierarchy remains to be seen, with a final decision expected after the season concludes.