Durban City FC have reportedly made a surprise coaching change, with head coach Khalil Ben Youssef said to have left the club after only three months in charge.
The Tunisian tactician was reportedly informed of the decision on Saturday, along with members of his technical team. The development came shortly after Ben Youssef had overseen the team’s morning training session.
Durban City had not officially announced the coach’s departure at the time of the report.
Reported tensions behind the scenes
Ben Youssef joined Durban City in June ahead of the 2026/27 campaign after previously working as a co-coach at Kaizer Chiefs.
He was appointed to guide the KwaZulu-Natal club through a season that includes both domestic competition and continental football.
However, reports suggest that tensions had developed between the coach and the club’s management.
Among the issues reportedly raised by Ben Youssef were concerns about certain operational matters, including the standard of the club’s training facilities.
Those claims have not been publicly confirmed by Durban City, but the reported disagreements are understood to have contributed to the breakdown in the relationship between the coach and the club hierarchy.
Mixed league campaign, progress in Africa
Ben Youssef’s reported exit comes after an inconsistent start to Durban City’s Betway Premiership campaign.
The club collected seven points from seven matches, recording one win, four draws and two defeats. Their most recent league fixture under Ben Youssef ended in a 1-1 draw against Milford FC.
Their continental campaign has produced a different picture.
Durban City progressed to the second preliminary round of the CAF Confederation Cup after defeating Burundi’s Rukinzo FC 3-1 on aggregate.
The South African side won the first leg 1-0 at Moses Mabhida Stadium before completing the tie with a 2-1 victory in Burundi.
Ben Youssef had praised his players for showing character across the two legs and managing the second match to secure qualification.
Who takes charge next?
The timing of the reported departure is particularly significant, with Durban City still competing in the CAF Confederation Cup.
The club will now be expected to clarify Ben Youssef’s status officially and provide details on the next step for the technical team.
An interim coach could be appointed while the club considers its longer-term options.
For now, the reported split marks an unexpectedly short spell for Ben Youssef, who arrived only in June with the task of guiding Durban City through a demanding 2026/27 campaign.
