Durban City's head coach, Khalil Ben Youssef, realizes that winning the first group stage match of the CAF Confederation Cup against Rukinzo FC does not mean the task is complete, as the team prepares for the return fixture in Burundi on Sunday.
Although 'The Citizens' gained a slight advantage with a 1-0 score in the first match, Ben Youssef believes that the real test for the team awaits them in Burundi. The team is playing its first official match outside South Africa, will face unfamiliar artificial turf, and an opponent who, according to the coach, possesses enough attacking power to punish any carelessness.
Since most of the squad is participating in continental football for the first time, the coach believes that mental preparation may be the decisive factor in trying to maintain the lead and advance.
The team's first appearance on the continental stage at Moses Mabhida Stadium was not easy. In the first half, they struggled to adapt, and it seemed that the atmosphere was putting pressure on the players, who rushed their passes and lost possession. However, Ben Youssef's intervention during the break helped change the course of the game: after the break, the team gained more control of the situation and created several scoring opportunities, resulting in a self-inflicted goal by Rukinzo.
Although the victory gives the team something to defend at Intwari Stadium in Bujumbura on Sunday (the match starts at 15:00), Ben Youssef does not consider the task accomplished. He emphasized that this is not a safe result. 'If you win by a large margin, it gives more confidence, but I think this is a difficult result, so we need to prepare for the second game.'
The coach is particularly concerned about the threat from Rukinzo on counterattacks. The Burundian team demonstrated in Durban that it is capable of causing problems when it gains possession, thanks to speed and individual skill in attack.
Ben Youssef noted: 'They have quality players up front, fast, and technically they can change the situation in one-on-one duels.'
These qualities could become even more significant on artificial turf, where the team will have to quickly adapt to conditions very different from those experienced at Moses Mabhida. This is another unfamiliar challenge for a team that is still acclimatizing to the continental arena. Sunday's match will be their first official outing outside South Africa.
Ben Youssef believes that preparing the players for this event will be as important as the tactical plan. He stated: 'Our duty as technical staff is first to prepare our players mentally, then physically and technically. The most important thing is that we must be morally ready to play this game.'
The tight schedule does not end in Burundi either: in just four days, the team must play away against defending champions Orlando Pirates in the league. With a small squad, Ben Youssef admitted that rotation will be necessary, but the immediate focus remains on fulfilling their continental mission.
He added: 'Now we are representing not only Durban City, we are representing the entire country. We are representing South Africa.'
For 'The Citizens', the return match on Sunday will be their toughest test and an opportunity to demonstrate that they can handle pressure outside the borders of South Africa.