The Citizens’ coach revealed that the youthful energy of Luphumlo ‘Kaka’ Sifumba was the driving force behind his side’s dramatic cup final triumph on Saturday. After trailing at the break, the Team of Choice staged a spirited second-half fightback in Polokwane to secure the silverware.
The Ke Yona Cup final delivered a fairytale finish on Saturday night as Durban City etched their name into South African football folklore. In a remarkable first season in the top flight, the newly promoted side capped off their dream campaign by lifting their first major piece of silverware, edging TS Galaxy 2-1 at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
The Rockets tactician has admitted that his side’s inability to address long-standing defensive vulnerabilities ultimately cost them the chance to lift the Cup. The 2018–19 winners fell to a 2-1 defeat against Durban City in Polokwane on Saturday, extending a miserable run of form for the Mpumalanga-based outfit.
Darren Keet has confirmed he will retire from professional football at the end of the current season. The 36-year-old made the emotional announcement just moments after helping Durban City secure their first-ever Nedbank Cup title with a victory over TS Galaxy at the Peter Mokaba Stadium.
With everything at stake in the Ke Yona final, the Rockets bore the burden of expectation as they aimed to steady a disappointing Premier Soccer League campaign and relive their greatest moment in the competition, lifting the trophy at Moses Mabhida Stadium against Kaizer Chiefs in 2019, back when they were still in the First National Division. On the other side, the league newcomers embraced a golden opportunity to write their names into the history books and end KwaZulu-Natal’s long wait for silverware, with a chance to reignite the province’s cup pedigree.
Both sides have been bullish during the build up to the final but only one can emerge victorious with their name engraved on the trophy. The Citizens will be confident after doing the league double over The Rockets but their new interim coach Bernard Parker has cup pedigree he can hopefully instil in his players.
Since the Conference League's inception in 2021, three teams have lifted the trophy: Roma, West Ham United, and the current champions, Olympiacos.
How many teams are in the Conference League?
The newest format, introduced ahead of the 2024-25 season, features 36 teams, four more than in the previous format.
Who has made the most Conference League appearances ever?
Mainz 05 midfielder Hong Hyun-seok and Gent captain Sven Kums have made 39 appearances each in the Conference League, making them the players with the most appearances in the competition.
Who is the all-time top scorer of the Conference League?
As for top goalscorers, Arthur Cabral leads the list with 21 goals to his name, including those scored in the qualifying phase. However, without taking into account goals scored in the qualifying phase, three players have scored the joint-most goals in Conference League with 12 each to their names: Arthur Cabral, Eran Zahavi, and Vangelis Pavlidis.
Who has the most assists in the history of the Conference League?
Darian Males, Gavriel Kanichowsky, and Cristiano Biraghi have the most assists in Conference League history, registering eight assists each.
Who is the oldest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Veteran Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina, while playing for Villarreal in 2023, became the oldest player to feature in the Conference League at 40 years and 175 days.
Who is the youngest player ever in the Conference League and how old was he?
Lille wonderkid Ayyoub Bouaddi holds the record as the Conference League's youngest-ever player at the tender age of 16 years and 3 days.
Which famous players have played in the Conference League?
Stars such as Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Tammy Abraham, Declan Rice, Harry Kane, Ollie Watkins,Co Mario Gotze, Kasper Schmeichel, Cody Gakpo, Stephan El Shaarawy, James Maddison, Jonathan David, and Edin Dzeko have played in the Conference League.
Which famous managers have managed in the Conference League?
Manuel Pellegrini, Jose Mourinho, Unai Emery, David Moyes, and Ange Postecoglou are among the most famous managers to have managed in the Conference League.