DURBAN City FC coach Simo Dladla has made it known that he will be resting his regular players when they go to ABC Motsepe League side Lerumo Lions for their Nedbank Cup last 32 encounter in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon.

The match will be played at Olympia Park (kick-off 3pm).

Speaking to the media during the Nedbank Cup press conference in Durban on Wednesday, Dladla, whose side leads the Motsepe Foundation Championship standings, did not beat around the bush regarding the trend of resting regulars when coming up against minnows in the competition.

“We welcome this fixture. It will serve us well in terms of giving us more games. We are currently leading the championship,” said Dladla.

@DurbanCity coach Simo_Dladla has come out straight that he will rest his regulars against minnows #LerumoLions in the #2025NedbankCup pic.twitter.com/hWCSkzVsAQ
— Malibongwe Mdletshe (@Malbingo) January 22, 2025

“We are a team that has been consistent with our line-ups and training regimes. Up to this point, not everybody (players) has had a chance to play and also, during this transfer period, we’ve added a few players.

“So, this fixture will give us a chance to introduce new players into the team and also give those that haven’t had a chance to play, a chance to get a run.”

Durban City recently changed their name from Maritzburg United and moved officially from Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Their mission this season is clear – get the club promoted to the Premiership.

With that, there could be pressure to maintain the winning culture, therefore compelling Dladla to go to Rustenburg with the core of his table-topping side. But that is not the case.

“We don’t have any pressure and as such, we are going to rest our regulars and integrate the new players and give others a chance,” Dladla reiterated.

“So, this is an opportunity we are looking forward to without any pressure and we (as a technical team) are hoping that the players will see it as an opportunity too.”

Lions campaign in the North West ABC Motsepe League and are coached by former Ajax Cape Town, Bloemfontein Celtic, Mpumalanga Black Aces and Chippa United winger – Mkhanyiseli Siwahla.