Durban City warned to expect ‘the worst’ in CAF Confederation Cup trip to Burundi

Durban City chairman Farook Kadodia says his side must be ready for a difficult assignment when they face Rukinzo in the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first-round tie in Burundi on Sunday.

The South African club take a narrow 1-0 advantage to Bujumbura after winning the first leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium. Kadodia believes Durban City will encounter a very different Rukinzo side on home territory, with the Burundian team expected to adopt a more attacking approach in front of their own supporters.

The chairman admitted City would have preferred to carry a more substantial lead into the return fixture, but said the priority now was to secure a result that would take them through to the next round.

“Look, it’s the first-leg, we would have loved to win with a few more goals. We know this team will have a totally different game-plan, they won’t sit back, as they sat back. We expect them to come and play attacking football,” Kadodia said.

“So all we need to do is to fight hard, get the result and progress to the next round.”

The trip has also created logistical concerns for Durban City, who are preparing to travel to an area where they have limited experience of the conditions they may face.

Kadodia said the journey itself, including airport arrangements and the time spent travelling, could place additional demands on the players. He added that the club remained uncertain about the standard of accommodation and whether the available dietary provisions would meet the squad’s needs.

“That’s the biggest challenge we have, (finding) airports, travelling, it will take its toll but we have to deal with it. It’s our first test, we’re not sure what kind of accommodation, dietary conditions, whether that would suit our players but we have to go through it,” Kadodia said.

Durban City’s chairman said the club had sought advice from other teams in the Premier Soccer League with experience of playing in African competitions. However, he noted that very few of those clubs had travelled specifically to Burundi.

The guidance they had received was that City should be prepared for a range of challenges, including the possibility of difficult interactions with match officials and a hostile atmosphere from the crowd.

“Very few of them have gone to Burundi itself but generally we’ve had the feedback that ‘you must be prepared for the worst, whether you would be playing against officials, the crowd, whatever you do you just have to make sure that you are mentally strong’,” Kadodia added.

Durban City are seeking to build on what was a historic CAF Confederation Cup debut victory. Their one-goal lead gives them an advantage, but Kadodia’s comments underline the importance the club places on maintaining concentration and mental strength during the return leg in Bujumbura.