Despite leading Durban City to promotion into the Betway Premiership, coach Simo Dladla has parted ways with the club under unclear circumstances, as he and chairman Farook Kadodia offered conflicting accounts of what led to the split.
Dladla’s exit comes shortly after Durban City’s triumph in the Motsepe Foundation Championship, but tensions during contract talks ultimately derailed any continuation.
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Speaking to Ukhozi FM on Wednesday, both Dladla and Kadodia confirmed the departure—but their versions of events didn’t exactly align.
“We had been in negotiations since winning the title,” said Kadodia. “Unfortunately, the coach’s expectations were not aligned with those of the club, and that’s how we ended up here. Sometimes, that’s just how football works.”
However, Dladla offered a more detailed and contrasting perspective.
“What the chairman said isn’t entirely accurate,” he said. “Right after the season ended, the club asked me for a report, which I submitted along with my plan for the upcoming season. I was also told that new shareholders had joined the club—apparently nine of them.”
Dladla explained that he outlined which players he wanted to retain, how he envisioned his technical team, and even his contract terms, including salary expectations. According to him, the board initially responded positively.
“Then they asked me to meet with the owners,” Dladla continued. “In that meeting, I was told to reduce my demands. They asked me to name people I’d be willing to release from my technical team. That was difficult for me because we’ve built something solid together.”
Even after adjusting his salary expectations, Dladla says the club continued asking for further concessions without presenting a formal offer.
“I eventually asked them to send me a written proposal outlining exactly what they could offer,” he said. “But instead, I kept receiving vague responses like, ‘We’ll replace X with Y,’ without telling me who those people were. That was the last communication I had.”
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Ultimately, the lack of clear communication and shifting expectations led to the end of a promising partnership just as Durban City prepares for life in the top flight.
