Polokwane City F.C.

History

Polokwane City FC was established in 2012 although after the owners of Bay United sold the franchise to the Mogaladi family. After playing in various temporary venues, the club was moved officially from Port Elizabeth to Polokwane City.

Bay United originally came into existence in 2006 when the franchise of the struggling National First Division club Maritzburg United was purchased and relocated to Port Elizabeth. The club spent one season in the Premier Soccer League, and the other years of its existence in the National First Division. Following the 2010–11 NFD season, the club's NFD franchise was moved to Polokwane, Limpopo.

In May 2013 City was promoted to the Premiership.

They won the 2022–23 National First Division on the final day, earning promotion to the 2023–24 Premiership.

Honours

• National First Division
  • Champions: 2012–13, 2022–23

November 2012 accident

Four of the club's players died in a traffic accident on 11 November 2012. The crash occurred on the R71 highway, near Polokwane as the players were returning from their match against FC AK. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of drunken and reckless driving. The deceased players were:

• Khomotso Silvester Mpaketsane (27) – born 13 April 1985 – joined the club in January 2011 (during Bay United F.C. season) and stayed after move to Polokwane
• Benjamin Moeketsi Nthete (23) – born 22 February 1989 – attacker who joined the club in 2012 on loan from Orlando Pirates
• Mojalefa Robert Mphuthi (21) – born 31 August 1991 – striker, nicknamed 'Small', who joined the club after it moved to Polokwane
• Koketso Isaiah Takalo (20) – born 15 February 1992 – left-wing, nicknamed 'Kaiser' or 'KK', who joined the club after it moved to Polokwane

League record

[[National First Division]]

• 2012–13 – 1st (promoted)

[[South African Premiership|Premiership]]

• 2013–14 – 15th
• 2014–15 – 12th
• 2015–16 – 13th
• 2016–17 – 6th
• 2017–18 – 12th
• 2018–19 – 5th
• 2019–20 – 16th (relegated)

[[National First Division]]

• 2020–21 – 13th
• 2021–22 – 6th
• 2022–23 – 1st (promoted)

[[South African Premiership|Premiership]]

• 2023–24 – 8th
• 2024–25 – 7th

Current squad

Updated 16 August, 2025.

Foreigners

In the South African Premiership, only five non-South African nationals can be registered. Foreign players who have acquired permanent residency can be registered as locals. Namibians born before 1990 can be registered as South Africans.

• UGA Boban Zirintusa
• ZIM George Chigova
• ZIM Carlington Nyadombo
• SWZ Banele Sikhondze

;permanent residency

• MWI Essau Kanyenda

Notable former coaches

• SRB Vladislav Heric (1 July 2012 – 21 Jan 2013)
• RSA Duncan Lechesa (22 Jan 2013 – 18 Sept 2013)
• BRA Eduardo Schoeler (interim) (18 Sept 2013 – 20 Oct 2013)
• RSA Boebie Solomons (20 Oct 2013 – 1 Sept 2014)
• SRB Kosta Papić (5 Sept 2014 – 15 Oct 2015)
• BRA Júlio Leal (12 Nov 2015 – 6 July 2016)
• BEL Luc Eymael (6 July 2016 – 2018)
• SVK Jozef Vukušič (2018–2019)

References

References

1. "Polokwane City promoted to PSL by narrowest of margins on dramatic final day in NFD".
2. "South Africa 2022/23".
3. [http://www.kickoff.com/news/31277/deceased-polokwane-city-players-named ''Kickoff'', South Africa: Deceased Polokwane City players named]