Durban City closed out the 2024/25 Motsepe Foundation Championship season on a high, defeating Cape Town Spurs 1-0 at Athlone Stadium on Sunday.
But while City’s victory ensured they finished the campaign at the summit, it also condemned the Urban Warriors to relegation for a second consecutive season — this time to the ABC Motsepe League.
Spurs’ fall marks the end of a 26-year stay in professional football, across various incarnations of the club. They finished 15th on the table with just 30 points, joining Leruma United in the drop.
Head coach Ernst Middendorp, at the helm for both recent relegations, was too emotional to face the media after the final whistle. Goalkeeper coach Frederik Dreschsler stepped in.
“I think this game showed exactly how the season went for us, we’ve played a great game of football and created at least four top class chances while the opponents had two,” he said.
“It just showed the competitiveness of this league which averages about 1.2 goals per game and if you have a lapse in concentration then you get punished. We know they have to wait for Tuesday now but congratulations to Durban City.”
And we’ve done it🏆 pic.twitter.com/90V0IJwWDX
— Durban City FC (@DurbanCity_FC) May 18, 2025
City, now based in Durban after relocating, must wait anxiously for the outcome of a Dispute Resolution Chamber (DRC) hearing to determine whether they will be officially crowned champions. The DRC is set to sit on Tuesday to rule on a case regarding the eligibility of forward Saziso Magawana.
JDR Stars have challenged the legitimacy of Magawana’s clearance, alleging he was improperly registered following his move from Marumo Gallants.
The 26-year-old started once again for City in the win over Spurs, prompting the hosts to lodge a protest. Should the DRC find against Durban City, the championship — and promotion — could be decided off the field.
City could potentially be relegated if they are found guilty and are docked points,
Elsewhere, the race for the play-offs was just as dramatic.
Orbit College secured second place despite being held to a draw by already-relegated Leruma United at Olympia Park. Casric Stars snatched the final promotion play-off spot in stoppage time thanks to a last-gasp strike from former Bafana Bafana forward Kermit Erasmus.
Trailing Hungry Lions for most of the match, Stars’ 2-1 win saw them leapfrog Black Leopards into third.
Now, with play-offs looming and a title decision hanging by a thread, the Motsepe Foundation Championship season is set for a tense finish — both on the pitch and in the boardroom.
