Following the sacking of Sinethemba Badela, Durban City FC technical director Ernst Middendorp has dropped a bold statement on the vacant job at the club.
The KZN-based side sent a shockwave through the South African football fraternity after parting ways with Badela barely three months into the job. Badela bagged the head coach position at Durban City in December 2025 to replace Gavin Hunt and steer the ship for the second round of the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season.
Hunt took over the coaching gig at City at the start of the campaign; however, he left halfway through the campaign despite finishing the first-half of the campaign in the top half of the league table.
After the experienced mentor left Durban City, they roped in Badela to take over the project and help the club retain their status in the top-flight, having gained promotion to the Premiership at the start of the season.
The former Mamelodi Sundowns youth coach only took charge of three matches at Durban City before leaving the club. In a statement on Monday, Durban City revealed that they parted ways with Badela as his style of play is not compatible with the demands of the current season.
MIDDENDORP SAYS HE HAS NO INTEREST IN COACHING DURBAN CITY
Amidst the technical shake-up at Durban City, there’s been a widespread belief that Ernst Middendorp could take over the coaching role at the team. The former Kaizer Chiefs tactician has set the record, stating that he has no interest in coaching Farook Kadodia’s team.
“I was not connected to Durban City FC at the time the club released Gavin Hunt at the end of November 2025; I left the club at the end of September 2025. Officially, I joined Durban City FC on 15 December 2025 in the role of technical director again. I have no interest in, nor have I pursued, the position of Head Coach at Durban City FC,” Middendorp said on LinkedIn.
“There has never been any intention or scenario in which I would follow Themba Badela in the Head Coach role. Throughout my tenure, I have fully supported the head coach, both professionally and structurally, in line with my mandate as technical director and in the best interests of the club.
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