Big surprise as PSL club parts way with coach

Durban City are yet to make an official announcement, reports say that the Tunisian coach and members of his technical team were informed of the decision on Saturday.

The development comes just hours after Ben Youssef had taken charge of the team’s morning training session.

INTERNAL TENSIONS REPORTEDLY BEHIND DURBAN CITY’S DECISION

Ben Youssef was appointed by Durban City in June ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The former Kaizer Chiefs co-coach was tasked with guiding the KwaZulu-Natal club through its first campaign involving both domestic and continental football.

However, his short tenure has reportedly been affected by growing tensions between the coach and the club’s hierarchy.

According to reports, Ben Youssef had raised concerns about several operational matters at Durban City. His reported dissatisfaction included the quality and standard of the available training facilities.

These issues are believed to have contributed to a strained relationship between the coach and management. The reported concerns have not been confirmed by Durban City.

The decision is particularly notable because it comes while the club is still competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.

MIXED START DESPITE AFRICAN PROGRESS

Ben Youssef’s departure reportedly comes after a mixed start to the Betway Premiership campaign.

Durban City collected seven points from their opening seven league matches, recording one victory, four draws and two defeats. Their most recent league match under Ben Youssef ended in a 1-1 draw against Milford FC.

The club’s continental campaign, however, has been considerably more positive.

Durban City defeated Burundi’s Rukinzo FC 3-1 on aggregate in the CAF Confederation Cup first preliminary round. They won the first leg 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium before completing the job with a 2-1 victory in Burundi.

That result secured the club’s progression to the second preliminary round of the competition.

Ben Youssef had also publicly praised his players for their performance in the two-legged tie, saying they showed character to manage the second leg and secure qualification.

Durban City are now expected to clarify the situation officially, including the immediate structure of the technical team and who will take charge on an interim basis.

For now, Ben Youssef’s reported exit brings an unexpectedly early end to a tenure that lasted only three months.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS DECISION BY THE CLUB?

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