Durban City sack coach Khalil Ben Youssef after 10 games

Durban City have parted company with head coach Khalil Ben Youssef with immediate effect, ending his tenure after only 10 games in charge.

The decision was taken by the club’s board on Saturday after training, during the first FIFA international break of the Premier Soccer League season.

The 37-year-old’s departure was first reported by FARPost and subsequently confirmed to iDiski Times by Ben Youssef. The coach declined to provide further comment on the matter at this stage.

Ben Youssef recorded three wins, four draws and three defeats during his short spell at Durban City. Two of those losses came against reigning league champions Orlando Pirates.

His appointment had followed a successful campaign at Kaizer Chiefs, where he worked alongside Cedric Kaze as co-coach. The pair guided the Soweto club to a third-place finish last season before their contracts expired.

Both coaches moved into separate top-flight roles during the off-season. Kaze took charge of Sekhukhune United, while Tunisian Ben Youssef joined Durban City as the replacement for Nedbank Cup-winning coach Pitso Dladla, who is now with Golden Arrows.

Ben Youssef is the latest coach to lose his job as Premier Soccer League clubs make early changes during the international break. Kaze, Lehlohonolo Seema, Phuti Mohafe and Ronnie Gabriel have also been dismissed since the start of the campaign.

His exit comes despite Durban City’s progress into the next round of the CAFCC earlier in his tenure.