Durban City FC head coach Khalil Ben Youssef praised his side’s character after the Citizens came from behind to draw 1–1 with Milford FC in Sunday’s Betway Premiership KZN derby at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium.
City found themselves behind after a difficult opening half but responded after the break to earn a point on the road.
Ben Youssef admitted that the Citizens had not produced the performance they wanted in the first half but was pleased with the response from his players after the interval.
“We didn’t start the game the way we wanted. We conceded a goal and that made it difficult, but I’m very happy with the reaction and the character the players showed in the second half,” said Ben Youssef.
“I think the most important thing is that when the game is difficult, we find a way to get something from it. We showed good character in the second half to fight our way back into the game. We take the point and focus on the next game,” he added.
City’s recent schedule has included their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, with the Citizens travelling to Burundi for the second leg against Rukinzo FC before returning to domestic action.
Ben Youssef says the FIFA break comes at an important time for the squad, giving players a chance to recover after a congested run of fixtures and the demands of travelling between matches.
“Now we have the FIFA break, which comes at a good time for us. We have had a demanding period of games and travel, with very little time between matches. This break will give the players an opportunity to recover and prepare for what is ahead.”
The break will also give City an opportunity to welcome back several players who have been unavailable through injury, with Ben Youssef expecting more than five players to return to the squad.
“Fortunately for us, we have the FIFA break, and we expect more than five players to return to the squad. That will give us more options and allow us to manage the group better as we prepare for the next phase of the season,” concluded Ben Youssef.
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