Durban City coach Pitso Dladla praised his players’ resilience and discipline after they booked a historic first Nedbank Cup final berth with a 1-0 victory over Casric Stars at Chatsworth Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
Dladla conceded his side made life difficult for themselves, particularly after failing to build on their early advantage, courtesy of a Casric Stars own goal. ‘In the first half we made things a little bit difficult. We had moments where we could have gone for a second goal but took our foot off the pedal and allowed them to play,’ he said.
Durban City’s Road to the Final
Casric threatened more after the break with a direct approach, but Dladla highlighted his midfield unit for standing firm. ‘We had to make sure we win the first ball and secure the second ball. Brooklyn Poggenpoel and Thabo Nodada did exactly that,’ he said. ‘A lot of work was done by the players – credit must go to them.’
While acknowledging a slice of fortune, the coach insisted City had earned their moment. ‘In football you need luck, but you must make your own luck. It must be accompanied by hard work and proper planning,’ he explained.
Key Players and Strategies
Dladla also pointed to strong leadership behind the scenes as key to the club’s rise, stressing that the achievement was a collective effort beyond the technical team. The South African Football Association has also played a crucial role in supporting local teams.
Despite the milestone, he urged humility ahead of the final against TS Galaxy or Milford FC, who will contest Sunday’s second semi-final. ‘We must remain humble. Finals are very challenging and only the winners are remembered,’ he said.
- Durban City will face either TS Galaxy or Milford FC in the final
- The team has shown significant improvement in recent matches
- Strong leadership and teamwork have been key to their success
