Durban City FC have confirmed a sweeping overhaul of their technical leadership, appointing Sinethemba Badela as the club’s new head coach and reinstating Ernst Middendorp as sporting director.
The announcement follows the recent exit of Gavin Hunt, with the club’s board opting for a fresh strategic direction to meet its Betway Premiership ambitions. Assistant coach Pitso Dladla, who served in an interim capacity, remains part of the first-team setup, alongside goalkeeper coach Rowen Fernandez.
In a statement, the Citizens welcomed Badela and outlined their rationale:
“Durban City FC is pleased to announce the appointment of Sinethemba Badela as the club’s new Head Coach. Coach Badela brings valuable top-flight experience and a modern, progressive approach, with a strong emphasis on youth development. We welcome him to the Citizens family as we build toward an exciting future.”
Badela’s arrival marks his second head-coaching appointment in the Premiership this season. He began the campaign at Chippa United, but departed following reported differences with the club’s technical leadership. Both parties have since moved on.
Alongside Badela’s appointment, Middendorp returns to the club in a senior technical capacity after a brief absence earlier in the season. His comeback is widely seen as a move to consolidate the club’s footballing philosophy under a unified leadership structure.
Completing the reshuffle, Durban City have named Ashraf Hendricks as the new head coach of their DStv Diski Challenge team, taking over from Daine Klate.
The changes signal a clear intent from the Durban-based outfit to stabilise results and lay long-term foundations as the season progresses.