Ben Youssef Facing Durban City Ultimatum: 3 Games To Save Job
Sportswire has been reliably informed that Khalil Ben Youssef’s days as head coach of Durban City may be numbered.
Insiders report that Ben Youssef has been given a strict ultimatum: turn results around in the club’s next three matches, or risk seeing his tenure in Durban come to an abrupt end.
The Tunisian tactician faces a monumental task to shift his fortunes starting this weekend, when Durban City travel to Orlando Amstel Arena to take on Orlando Pirates in the MTN8 quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.
Should he fail to cause an upset against the Buccaneers, Ben Youssef must secure positive results in his next two fixtures: a fierce Durban derby against Golden Arrows at Chatsworth Stadium on 12 August, followed by a home clash against Richards Bay on 15 August.
Formidable Foes and Venue Struggles
To make matters worse for the under-fire coach, Orlando Pirates have made Orlando Amstel Arena a fortress, losing just twice at home last season—a league defeat to Sekhukhune United and a CAF Champions League second preliminary round penalty shootout against Congolese side FC Saint-Éloi Lupopo.
Furthermore, history favors Pirates in the MTN8. The Soweto giants have won the competition for the last four consecutive seasons and are eager to retain their title for a record fifth consecutive time.
The last time Pirates were eliminated in the opening round was during the 2021/22 campaign against Moroka Swallows—a defeat that cost then-coach Josef Zinnbauer his job despite having won the trophy the previous season.
Stellenbosch FC came close to breaking Pirates’ home dominance in the 2023/24 MTN8 semi-finals with a -1 victory at Orlando Amstel Arena, but ultimately bowed out on the away-goals rule following a 2-1 defeat in Cape Town.
Internal Friction and Facility Frustrations
Compounding the pressure on the pitch is growing friction off it. This publication indicated a few days ago that Ben Youssef—who replaced Pitso Dladla at the start of the season—is unhappy with Durban City’s training facilities at Howard College (UKZN). Accustomed to state-of-the-art infrastructure during his time at Kaizer Chiefs’ Naturena village, the coach is dissatisfied with having access to only a single training pitch.
There are also reports of tension within the technical team. Ben Youssef is alleged to have shown a lack of respect toward technical staff, including the video analyst, and reportedly remarked that the club won last season’s Nedbank Cup “by luck.”
Technical Hierarchy Reshuffle
Meanwhile, experienced German mentor Ernst Middendorp has returned to Durban City for a third stint in two seasons to serve as a temporary technical advisor. Middendorp is expected to assist in establishing a solid club structure before departing, though whether Ben Youssef will remain head coach under that structure is uncertain.
Additionally, Cyril Mthembu has rejoined the club as head of recruitment. Mthembu, who departed late last season before being replaced by Goolam Valodia ahead of the Nedbank Cup final win, was absent during City’s opening-weekend loss to Sekhukhune United, though he was spotted in the stands during AmaZulu’s clash with Stellenbosch at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday.
Off the field, the administrative shifts continue, with Brand Manager Yolanda Bukani also having parted ways with the club last month.
