Durban City Officially Crowned 2024/25 NFD Champions at Supersport Studios
Durban City has officially been crowned the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship (NFD) champions after receiving their trophy during a special ceremony held at Supersport Studio 6 in Randburg on Tuesday, 10 June 2025.
Originally, the club was expected to be awarded the title during their final match of the season away to Cape Town Spurs. However, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) delayed the handover due to formal protests lodged by both JDR Stars and Cape Town Spurs, who questioned the eligibility of Durban City player Saziso Magawana.
The matter was taken to arbitration, but in a decisive ruling, the case was dismissed with costs, clearing Durban City of any wrongdoing and confirming their status as champions.
Club Chairman Farook Kadodia was present at the studio not only to receive the trophy but also to accept a R5 million cheque. Kadodia expressed his excitement and shared his vision for the club moving forward.
“We need to reignite the culture of Friday night football,” said Kadodia. “Chatsworth is our home, and we believe it’s the perfect location to build something special. We’re surrounded by vibrant communities in the townships, and I’m confident the support will be there.”
He emphasized that Durban City aims to be more than just a football team: “It’s not only about playing the game. We want to offer fans a full entertainment experience. Football has tough competition these days, so we must give people a reason to come to the stadium, enjoy the game, and be part of something exciting.”
Although the trophy presentation would have had more flair had it taken place immediately after the final match in Cape Town, team captain Ayanda Mtshali said the moment still meant everything to the players.
“We’ve been waiting for this for a long time. Of course, we were hoping to lift it in Cape Town, but that didn’t happen. Still, today is a massive moment for the team,” said Mtshali.
The skipper also opened up about what drove the squad to clinch the title, dedicating the win to their late teammate Sinamandla “Sgora” Zondi, who tragically passed away in April after collapsing during the warm-up of a match.
“Sgora dreamed of lifting this trophy,” Mtshali shared. “After his passing, we made a promise to ourselves and to his family that we would win the league for him. His father even encouraged us to go all the way – and we did it. This victory is for him.”
Looking ahead, Mtshali acknowledged the challenge of competing in the top flight but promised the team would not back down.
“We know the Betway Premiership won’t be easy, but we’re going to fight. We want to prove we belong in the elite division, and we’ll give it everything we’ve got.”