Durban City chairman Farook Kadodia has warned his players to expect a difficult test when they travel to Burundi for the second leg of their CAF Confederation Cup first-round tie against Rukinzo on Sunday.
The South African side take a slender 1-0 advantage to Bujumbura after winning the first leg at Moses Mabhida Stadium, but Kadodia expects a more attacking Rukinzo when the teams meet again.
The chairman admitted City would have preferred a bigger advantage but believes the focus must now be on securing the result required to reach the next round.
“Look, it’s the first-leg, we would have loved to win with a few more goals. We know this team will have a totally different game-plan, they won’t sit back, as they sat back. We expect them to come and play attacking football,” Kadodia said.
“So all we need to do is to fight hard, get the result and progress to the next round.”
Beyond the football, Kadodia also identified the trip to Burundi as a significant challenge for his players.
The chairman said the travel arrangements, time spent on the road and uncertainty over accommodation and dietary provisions could affect the squad.
“That’s the biggest challenge we have, (finding) airports, travelling, it will take its toll but we have to deal with it. It’s our first test, we’re not sure what kind of accommodation, dietary conditions, whether that would suit our players but we have to go through it,” he said.
Durban City have consulted other Premier Soccer League clubs with experience of continental football for advice ahead of the trip.
However, Kadodia said few of those clubs had travelled specifically to Burundi, leaving City to prepare for unfamiliar conditions.
The feedback they received was to expect a challenging environment, including a potentially hostile crowd and difficult interactions with match officials.
“Very few of them have gone to Burundi itself but generally we’ve had the feedback that ‘you must be prepared for the worst, whether you would be playing against officials, the crowd, whatever you do you just have to make sure that you are mentally strong’,” Kadodia added.
The return leg will be another important occasion for Durban City after their historic victory in their first-ever CAF Confederation Cup appearance.
Their 1-0 lead gives them an advantage, but Kadodia knows they will need discipline, concentration and mental strength to protect it in Bujumbura and secure progression to the next round.
