The Announcement
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In the heart of South Africa’s footballing landscape, a tale of resilience, ambition, and triumph unfolds—a story that begins in 2005 when Volkswagen South Africa took a bold step into the world of football. In response to a call from Nelson Mandela Bay’s mayor to establish a professional soccer team, Volkswagen breathed new life into the struggling KwaZulu-Natal-based National First Division side, Maritzburg United.The vision was grand: to build a club that would rally a city behind it as South Africa prepared to welcome the world for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The franchise was relocated to Port Elizabeth, and in an extraordinary show of public engagement, the people were given a voice in naming their team. From taxi ranks to bustling streets and radio waves, voices merged, and dreams intertwined. In the end, the name Bay United was born—a beacon of unity and ambition.
Peter Mokaba Stadium. The Peter Mokaba Stadium is a football and rugby union stadium in Polokwane (formerly Pietersburg), South Africa, that was used for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
The journey took another leap forward in 2006 when Volkswagen acquired the University of Port Elizabeth School of Excellence, a soccer development institution that would nurture young talent for generations. The senior team, fueled by promise and hunger, rose to second place in the 2007 National First Division Coastal Stream, their eyes set on the grand stage.By 2007, a new chapter beckoned. Volkswagen passed the torch to Izingwe Holdings, led by businessman Sipho Mila Pityana. What followed was the stuff of dreams—Bay United, a team merely three years old, defied expectations and clinched promotion to the Premier Soccer League at the end of the 2007/08 season.
Yet, the glory was fleeting. The 2009/10 season saw the team relegated, a painful reminder of football’s unforgiving nature. Ownership changed hands once again, with businesswoman Julia Lerato Mogaladi taking the reins. Determined to etch a new identity, the club relocated to Limpopo, adopting the name Polokwane City Football Club in 2012, symbolizing a fresh start and a new home.However, fate dealt a cruel hand in the 2012/13 season. Tragedy struck when a horrific car accident claimed the lives of four players—Koketso Takalo, Robert Mphuti, Moeketsi Nthete, and Silverster Mpkatsane. The club, and indeed the nation, mourned. Yet, in the face of unbearable loss, the team found strength. They played with a renewed spirit, as if carrying the dreams of their fallen brothers on their shoulders. The season, though tainted with sorrow, ended in triumph as City secured promotion to the PSL, proving that even in the darkest times, resilience can forge greatness.The PSL journey was never easy. The 2013/14 season began with a string of losses, but determination saw them secure their first historic win against Ajax Cape Town. Their chairman, Johnny Mogaladi, displayed rare devotion, ensuring fans had access to transportation and tickets—football, after all, was about the people. The club’s meteoric rise in support was evident when they faced Kaizer Chiefs, drawing a crowd that showcased their growing stature.Seasons passed, battles were fought, and victories were claimed. In 2014/15, City finished 15th but survived the playoffs to maintain their PSL status. The following season, they climbed to 12th. Then, in 2016/17, history was made once more as Polokwane City qualified for the MTN 8 for the first time, finishing an impressive 6th in the PSL standings.Polokwane City’s story is one of undying spirit—a club that has seen highs and lows, celebrated triumphs, and endured heartbreaks. Through every challenge, they have risen, turning pain into purpose, tragedy into triumph. From the streets of KwaZulu-Natal to the stadiums of Limpopo, they stand today as a testament to the power of perseverance, the beauty of football, and the unbreakable will of a team that refuses to be forgotten.
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We firmly believe that humility is an essential characteristic as we seek to improve every day. Everything that we achieve is the result of sacrifice and hard work, and humility enables us to avoid becoming complacence.
We firmly believe that humility is an essential characteristic as we seek to improve every day. Everything that we achieve is the result of sacrifice and hard work, and humility enables us to avoid becoming complacence.
