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Khalil Ben Youssef, the coach of Durban City, stated the necessity of bringing in additional players to help the team successfully manage a demanding schedule that includes participation in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Need for Squad Reinforcement

The newly appointed coach of Durban City emphasized that the team requires more footballers to have a chance of success in the CAF Confederation Cup this season. Adding depth to the squad will help the 'Citizens' in the upcoming season, as they participate in several tournaments, including the Betway Premiership, MTN8, Nedbank Cup, and CAF Confederation Cup.

According to Youssef, acquiring players such as Sandile Shandu and Gaston Sirino would be extremely valuable this season due to their experience in CAF competitions.

Post-Match Comments

These statements were made after Durban City lost 5-4 on penalties in the KZN Premier Cup on Saturday. Ben Youssef noted that the team met expectations before the match. He added that the team played very well in the first and second halves, but in the final third of the field, he felt they lacked creativity and decisiveness.

He also highly praised the defensive play, noting that the opponent did not create many chances. This match served as a good test to assess the current level of the team before the championship against Sekhukhune.

Player Requirements

Although Youssef expressed satisfaction with the team's performance, he believes they lack two or three players to provide greater confidence in the squad. Since many competitions are scheduled for the season, additional players are needed for rotation. Last season, Durban City succeeded by winning the Nedbank Cup and receiving a prize money of 7 million rand, funds which are expected to have been used to bring in former Chiefs coach Ben Youssef and Sirino.

Ben Youssef also commented that last year's squad had a good foundation, but required refinement in the attacking zone. He mentioned that Jean Lubumba was one of the few attacking players in a team known for its solid defense. Durban's main task this season will be scoring goals and finding spaces between the league's best defensive lines.

Explaining his hiring decision, Ben Youssef clarified that the choice was not based on personal knowledge of players like Morris and Sirino, but on the need for footballers with African playing experience. He stressed that when participating in the Confederation Cup, there must be at least three players familiar with the tournament to support the others, and attracting such players will increase team confidence.