Ben Youssef: Durban City should have beaten Orlando Pirates 3-0

Durban City head coach Khalil Ben Youssef believes his side were good enough to beat Orlando Pirates by three goals despite suffering a 2-0 defeat at the Orlando Amstel Arena.

Ben Youssef said Durban City were the stronger team for significant periods of the match, particularly in the first half, when they created several clear opportunities against one of the continent’s leading clubs.

“We should’ve won 3-0,” said Ben Youssef, whose assessment was based on the chances his players produced and the way they carried out their tactical plan before the result turned against them.

The coach acknowledged, however, that failing to convert opportunities remains a persistent weakness for his team. He described the problem as one that is already well known within the club and said the technical staff were working continuously to find a solution.

Durban City’s difficulties have been compounded by the demands of competing on the continental stage with a small squad. Ben Youssef explained that some players have been required to complete consecutive 90-minute matches, leaving him with limited scope to rotate his team.

In the short term, he indicated that players from the club’s development ranks could be called upon to help ease the burden on the senior squad.

The coach also addressed the club’s captaincy arrangements, explaining that responsibility is shared through a rotation system involving members of the leadership group rather than being held permanently by one player.

With the transfer window approaching, Ben Youssef discussed the possibility of strengthening his squad and the options still available to Durban City. The club must also manage the immediate demands of its schedule, with a league match against Milford coming just three days after the defeat by Orlando Pirates.

Ben Youssef said some players were deliberately managed during the closing stages at the Orlando Amstel Arena, with their availability for the Milford fixture in mind. The decision reflected the need to balance the club’s continental commitments with its league campaign.

The news conference ended with praise for Brooklyn Poggenpoel after the midfielder received a Bafana Bafana call-up.

Ben Youssef spoke positively about Poggenpoel’s mental resilience and the progress he has made throughout his career. He also suggested that the player may not be the only Durban City representative to attract attention from the national team, hinting that others could soon be pushing for recognition.