The owner of Durban City, Farook Kadodia, believes that the Motsepe Foundation Championship (MFC) title will be ultimately handed over to them, as they have a strong case.
Kadodia was speaking after Sunday’s National First Division league match that saw City (formerly Maritzburg United) cap their glorious 2024/25 season with a narrow 1-0 victory away to the relegated Cape Town Spurs.
City finished the season on top of the MFC log with 58 points, three points ahead of second-placed Orbit College FC.
However, their declaration as league champions and the handing over of their trophy were put on hold, pending a case brought forward by JDR Stars, who are accusing the KwaZulu-Natal side of fielding improperly registered players.
Stars played their match away to City at the Chatsworth on May 5 under protest, claiming that the club fielded an improperly registered player in Saziso Magawana.
“We are not even worried about that because we have done nothing wrong. We are not shaken because we have a strong case,” said the excited Kadodia after City’s victory over Spurs.
The win sent the Cape side to the football doldrums in the ABC Motsepe League, where they will be joining another relegated side, Leruma United.
Stars have nothing to gain
Should the league rule in favour of Stars and deduct points from City, depending on whether they will deduct from all the matches that Magawana was fielded in, then Orbit could be declared winners.
The second and third places would go to Casric and Leopards, who would then compete in the promotional play-offs.
Ironically, Stars, who lodged the protest, will have nothing to gain in the league’s decision, as the Soshanguve-based side finished their league campaign in seventh position with 43 points despite beating Pretoria Callies 2-0 in their last league match.
While City were celebrating their achievement, elsewhere at the Thohoyandou Stadium, Leopards rose from a 1-0 deficit to beat Pretoria University 2-1.
Leopards finished their season in fourth position with 47 points, one point behind Casric FC, who beat Hungry Lions 2-1 to wrap the season with 48 points.
In other matches played on Sunday Kruger United and Venda Academy played to a 2-2 draw, Milford FC lost 2-1 to Baroka, and Upington City beat Highbury 1-0
