Durban City FC have relieved technical director Ernst Middendorp of his duties, bringing an end to the German’s short stint at the Betway Premiership newcomers and adding another twist to what has been a turbulent campaign.
Middendorp’s departure comes in the wake of head coach Sinethemba Badela’s recent exit, a sequence of events that has inevitably fueled speculation about internal dynamics at the club. In the days following Badela’s dismissal, some observers suggested Middendorp may have played an influential role in the decision to make a change on the bench.
However, club chairman Farook Kadodia has publicly taken full responsibility for Badela’s departure, distancing Middendorp from claims that he engineered the coaching reshuffle.
In a press release issued on Thursday, the club confirmed that Middendorp’s tenure had reached its natural conclusion, describing his role as a short-term intervention during a delicate transitional period.
“Durban City FC confirms that Technical Director Ernst Middendorp has completed his short-term contract with the club, having fulfilled the specific mandate for which he was engaged,” the statement read.
“Middendorp rejoined Durban City FC on 15 December 2025. His brief focused on stabilising and strengthening the club’s technical structures during a period of transition, and that mandate has now been brought to its planned conclusion.
“The club thanks Ernst Middendorp for his professionalism and commitment during his time with us and wishes him success in his future endeavours.”
Middendorp, well known in South African football circles for his previous spell with Kaizer Chiefs, was brought in to provide experience and structural oversight as Durban City navigated the pressures of top flight football. His exit leaves the club once again recalibrating its technical direction at a critical stage of the season.
For a side still finding its feet in the Premiership, stability remains elusive. Whether this latest change signals the end of internal upheaval or merely another phase in an evolving project will become clearer in the weeks ahead.