Durban City FC boss Khalil Ben Youssef praised his team's resilience after they battled to a 1-1 draw with Milford FC in the Betway Premiership KZN derby. The result at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium on Sunday leaves the club 10th in the Premier Soccer League, with seven points from their opening seven matches.

Luphumlo Sifumba's 50th-minute free-kick cancelled out Milford's first-half opener, securing a point for the hosts. Goalkeeper Frederick Asare was named Man of the Match, making a key penalty save to keep his side in the contest.

Manager's reaction

Ben Youssef admitted his team's start was not good enough but was pleased with the response. "We didn’t start the game the way we wanted," the head coach said. "We conceded a goal and that made it difficult, but I’m very happy with the reaction and the character the players showed in the second half."

The draw was Durban City's fourth of the league campaign, with just one victory secured so far. Ben Youssef acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for the fixture so soon after a midweek CAF Confederation Cup trip to Burundi and a league defeat to Orlando Pirates. He stressed the importance of the point given the team's congested schedule.

Break provides relief

With the FIFA international break now underway, Ben Youssef expects a significant boost. He said the pause comes at a vital time for squad recovery after a demanding September. "Now we have the FIFA break, which comes at a good time for us," Ben Youssef said. "We have had a demanding period of games and travel, with very little time between matches."

The coach anticipates more than five players returning from injury during the break, which will provide better options for group management. This is welcome news as the team prepares for a tough return to action against third-placed Amazulu on 16 October.

The team's recent form shows two wins, two draws and one loss from their last five outings. They will look to build on that when the league resumes, with the returning players aiming to improve a record of four goals scored and five conceded this season. The club's current standings position reflects a need for more consistent results.

Background and full detail: durbancityfc.com