18-05-2025
Durban City finish top, Spurs drop — but controversy looms over title race
Ruzaigh Gamildien of Durban City celebrates scoring against Cape Town Spurs at Athlone Stadium on Sunday in their Motsepe Foundation Championship clash. Photo: BackpagePix
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.'
